Each month at Guitar Chef we receive the opportunity to interview some of the world's finest players. To gain a unique perspective on how their European fans perceive them and the questions that they are interested in, all interviews are conducted through the Italian Editors of this E'zine.
To check out these interviews, simply scroll down to read all or you can skip down to a specific artist that you're intersted in by clicking the links below.

This month's artists include:
  • Steve Smith (Vital Information)
  • Michael Manring (Student of Jaco)
  • Virgil Donati (Planet X)
  • Derek Sherinian (Former Dream Theater keyboardist)
  • Bobby Rock (Dangerous beat)

    •     Steve Smith      Vital Information     -By Guido Mercati

    Steve SmithTell me about 'Tone Center'? Is it really a Rock/Fusion department of Shrapnel or a personal Steve Smith solo project label?

    Mike Varney started this by asking me to so a high energy fusion Cd for Shrapnel with the players of my choice . I choice Scott Henderson and Victor Wooten . We decided to start a new label because Shrapnel has a Metal connotation and we wanted the Cd in the Jazz section of the record stores . Then Varney asked me to put more projects together for this new label . So you know about the other projects . He owns the label and has put other projects . he owns the label and has put other projects togethr without my involvemernt . CAB , Rachel Z , Bass extremes , Greg Howe etc ... He does listen to my input and likes many of my ideas .

    Give us some news about 'Hyperacuity', the new Greg Howe album (if you know something or played on it).

    I didn't play on it and i don't know who did , but they are not well known players . I have heard it and it's very creative and Greg sounds incredible on it . He has a lot of Holdsworth influence and thankfully doesn't sound like a heavy metal player on it .

    How is it working with Scott Henderson and Frank Gambale, two of the greatest modern musicians? Do you have a particular story about recording that album ?

    With Scott , he is very critical and is very focus on his sound . He spends a lot of time getting the right sound and he is critical about each note he plays , is it in tune ? In time ? Does it feel right ? Is it in the Chord ? He is a very funny guy and has all of us laughing all the time . Frank is much looser about his sound , though he cares about it , but not to a obsessive degree , Frank is also more of an in the moment improviser who plays and says "...that was a good performance for everyone , lets keep it !" . He also cares a lot about playing the right notes , but lets some things go just because they feel right . They have many similarities but also many differents .

    Any interesting upcoming projects on 'Tone Center' in the near future?

    We are talking with Jeff Berlin , Jimmy Herring and others but i have nothing planned right now .

    A new studio CD will soon be released by Vital Information and your live album just came out. Now, what about the Jazz Fusion right now? Do you see any interesting new musicians out there in the vein of Vital Information, Dixie dregs, Vertu' etc.?

    I don't see too much in the way of good high energy jazz/rock/fusion . there are some great bands beside Vital Information there is Mike Stern , Scofield , Weckl , Tribal Tech , Zawinul , Yellow Jackets and i don't know who else , but that is not many bands . I look for Blues , Swing , Be-Bop , Funk and players with experience , meaning they have apprenticed with some masters . This is a kind of music you can't just teach yourself , the master/apprentice approach is crucial . All of the great Jazz players came thru someone's band or many bands , this is becoming a lost tradition and the music suffers as a result .

    Steve SmithYour comments about the other musicians on the CD (Henderson, T.Lavitz and Jeff Berlin)

    That was a great group musically and we all got along well and lot of fun . I talk to all of those guys at least every mounth .

    Your thoughts on 'Fiafaga' with Corrado Rustici on guitar?

    Fiafaga was our "computer" and "quantized" period . I like the music but it is much more controlled than what we do now . I have worked with Corrado a lot , with him as the producer . tha latest is Claudio Baglioni's new Cd . I asked Corrado to play a type of Octave playing like Benson or wes montgomery , which was very foreign to him . But he is such a professional that he figured it out and did a great job . I have a lot of respect for him and he is very nice man !

    How many album have you recorded in the last 2 years? Is it possible for a human being to learn all those incredible drum's patterns and execute them perfectly? Congrats, GuitarChef is always with you!

    I think i've recorded at least 10 records in the last two years . that is a lot , but i sit down and play , new ideas come out all the time , so it's not too hard to come up with all those grooves and patterns .



        Michael Manring      Student of Jaco     -By Matt Cafissi

    Michael ManringMichael, tell me about your last album.

    My last album is called The Book of Flame and it's my first record for the Alchemy label. Previous to that all my solo albums were on Windham Hill. As with all my solo albums, it has both ensemble pieces and solo bass music. Although I was quite lucky to have a number of great musicians play on the album, I spent most of my time working on it alone. I was able to put most of it together in my home studio and this allowed me to work a little more slowly and be more reflective than I had on my previous albums. My friend Henry Kaiser said he feels it's my most personal recording and I think I agree. For me, music is a wonderful way of processing ideas and emotions and I think the music on The Book of Flame reflects the ideas and feelings that were in my mind while I was working on the music. It's a little hard to put into words, but I'd say some of the things that were on my mind were religion, society, the decay of our culture, the kinds of things we believe in and the sadness I felt over the death of my close friend Michael Hedges.

    Waht happened to Alex Skolnick? Any other collaborations with him?

    Alex is currently living in New York where he is studying jazz and playing with an East Coast version of the Skol Patrol, among other things. I still live in California, so we don't see each other as often as we used to. However, we will be recording another Attention Deficit this fall, which I believe takes us to your next question.

    Is the 'Attention Deficit Project' buried or what?

    Attention Deficit is very much alive! We're all pretty busy with other projects, but we're quite excited about the possibilities for the group and we have a lot of ideas for this new recording. We are hoping we can do some live playing, too. We've had several offers, so with a little luck you'll be hearing more from us in the future.

    The problem with most musicians is that they have great technique but lacking "heart"...you don't seem to have this problem. Do you agree?

    Thanks! I do feel it's a problem in some music. Music is an enormously complex art form. To master it takes a lot of dedication and there can be a tendency to focus on the technical aspects without acknowledging music's expressive and spiritual nature. Actually, I feel that there is a lot of very good music out there that is mostly technically oriented and I often enjoy listening to it, but what moves and inspires me the most is when an artist has developed his or her technical ability as a tool for better expressing something beautiful or meaningful about the world we live in. In my view, technique can either be liberating or confining, either wings or a prison. Of course, some artists try to avoid technique entirely and sometimes come up with some amazing results, but I feel that can be a trap, too. I try to focus on developing technique as a way of freeing myself from the confines of cliché, limitation, convention, triviality and insignificance.

    Michael ManringAnd Jaco Pastorius?

    Wow, that's a big one. Jaco was my biggest hero when I was growing up and I consider myself quite fortunate to have had the chance to study with him briefly in New York in the early 80's. It was a powerful experience for me, but more personally than musically. I had already learned a lot about his music from spending so much time listening, transcribing and studying it, so what I got from the lessons was more about who he was and how that related to the music he made. He was a complex person, both heroic and tragic, of course. Meeting him was enthralling, disturbing, frightening, enlightening, confusing and exhilarating all at the same time. It helped me to begin to face my own musical personality and to think about what direction I wanted to go.These days actually, I don't listen to Jaco that much. He was a great artist and I know his inspiration will always be part of who I am. But for me, that 's more about the past and these days I'm more interested in the present and the future. There's so much more I want to do with this instrument!


        Virgil Donati      Planet X     -By Luca Gendusa

    Virgil DonatiIn regards to your personal approach to music, is it natural or a bit studied?

    It started out naturally. I embraced a musical life from a very young age, before I even had a chance to know that it would be such a big part of my being. I always felt a need to be surrounded by music. I always felt more comfortable communicating through my music than words. Over the years I have spent a lot of time sharpening my skills , and developing my understanding of music.  Therefore, I would also say my approach is 'studied'.  Discovering, and understanding through hard work is a great thing. it keeps you inspired, and evolving as a player.

    I think your style is something unique. When you are in the composing process, do you give more priority to rhythm or melody?

    As a drummer, I tend to hear many interesting rhythms, which can be given a life through composition. But I always try to be consciuos of melodic, and harmonic structure as well. A composition contains all of these elements. There's no need to deny any of these. Having had traing as a pianist has also given me the harmonic and melodic perspective.

    What do you remember about your early experience with Claudio Villa? Was he an influence your life?

    Well, I was only three years old at the time. I was actually playing in my fathers band at the time and we opened the show for Claudio. I can't say I remember agreat deal about him.

    Virgil DonatiHow important is power and intensity in your style?

    It's the way I like to express myself through my instrument. Of course, I do play music that requires more subtle energies, and that can also be a great experience. But having a fiery constitution, I feel like i have a lot to give out to my audiences.

    How does it feel to be the Greatest drummer in the world?

    I'll let you know....if I ever get there.


        Derek Sherinian      Next Planet Please?     -By Guido Mercati

    Derek SherinianHow did "little Derek Sherinian" get started playing the keys?

    I started banging away at age five .

    How do you go about composing your music?

    I just wait for inspiration , and let it flow !

    What are your most recent completed projects and what are you currently working on?

    Right now , I am focusing my time on Planet X and getting it on an international level .

    Are you influenced by guitarists?

    Yes, Eddie Van Halen would have to be my biggest influence .

    How did you choose your bandmates in Planet X?

    Mike Varney was responsable for hooking me up with Virgil Donati and MacAlpine .

    Is this going to be your 'real' band for the future?

    I hope Planet X is my band forever !!!

    Tell me something concerning Metropolis 2...was it composed by you and Dream Theater?

    We wrote it years ago , they have rewritten it since then .

    And about Brad Gillis and his "shredding ranch"...

    This was my first record . Brad is a great player and a great friend .

    Which kind of music do you like more right now: neoclassical, prog/fusion or jazz?

    Prog Fusion , Planet X music !...

    What do you think about the future of the Guitar Shred music?

    I think Tony MacAlpine will be the man to watch !!!


        Bobby Rock      Dangerous beat     -By Matt Cafissi

    Bobby RockBobby, your first solo CD, "Out Of Body" is a great album with great songs and great musicians ... one of my favorite records!!!

    Thanks. Yeah, I still dig that record. Making it was a magical experience...

    And now? Another Bobby Rock solo album...

    Yes. I'm planning on hooking back up with Brett Garsed and Carl "The Fox" Carter (guitarist and bassist on "Out of Body") to write and record a new one sometime in early 2001.

    Why no more collaborations with Garsed/Helmerich?

    I've been on the road a lot for the last few years, and they've both been involved with other projects.

    Tell me about Neil Zaza ...

    Neil Zaza is one of the few touring instrumental rock guitarists in the US right now. He has kind of this contemporary/early Van Halen kind of sound with a ton of chops. We've done several tours together, and we have a live record out called "Snap, Crackle and Pop...Live!" that's the result of our extensive '97 tour. It's very in-your-face kind of material with lots of over-the-top playing.

    Next projects in mind?

    I'll be doing (instrumental rock guitarist) Gary Hoey's new record first, then my own right after. I'm also slated to play on Brett Garsed's debut solo release, as well.

    Bobby, do you think the future of Music Business will be on the Internet?

    Sure, I think the Internet will play a big role in the business from a promotional/distribution perspective. But I also know that with it being so accessible to anyone and everyone, it will continue to be a challenge to sort out quality from quantity. Of course, as a hardcore fan of touring, I hope live performance will play an even more important role in things than it has lately. After all, seeing a killer live show and getting your head blown off is still one of the most inspiring experiences there is!