Greg Howe

Greg Howe - Uncertain Terms - 1994 - Shrapnel

Greg Howe's third all-instrumental solo album of blazingly-fast instrumental melodic and funk jazz-flavored metal with amazing rock/fusion guitar solos. Greg unleashes an awesome display of his unbelievable fretboard work and lightning fast speed. There are many great shred guitarists playing today. The problem is that many shred albums are just displays of the guitarist’s technical ability without giving much thought to originality of composition. Greg Howe is not just a stupendous guitarist and certainly not a typical shredder. This is a true solo album in every sense of the word with intelligent and original compositions. Many people regard Greg as the best guitarist in the world today, but there are so many different guitar styles and musical genres in existence, the word “best” is probably too general a word to use as regards technically brilliant guitarists. Listen to Paul Gilbert and Guthrie Govan who, like Greg Howe are masters of the instrument and are proving that the “impossible” is now “possible” on a fretboard. These guys’ advanced techniques juxtaposed to intricate rhythms are simply mind-blowing. Check out Greg’s “Hyperacuity” and “Introspection” albums on this blog and listen to Greg’s 1988 s/t album [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 108.3 Mb]

TRACKS

1 Faulty Outlet 4:22
2 5 Mile Limit 4:42
3 Run With It 4:07
4 Business Conduct 4:33
5 Public And Private 5:29
6 Song For Rachelle 5:15
7 Stringed Sanity 6:02
8 Solid State 5:18
9 Second Thought 5:20

All tracks composed by Greg Howe. All instrumentation by Greg Howe except Guitar Synth solo by Lee Wertman on “Run With It”

BIO

Easton, PA's Greg Howe was a breath of fresh air amidst the seemingly never-ending stream of harmonic minor guitar virtuosos pouring forth from the Shrapnel Records label in the late '80s. While other post-Yngwie Malmsteen players of the "shred guitar" genre were pursuing the dramatic neo-classical vein, Howe brought a sense of funk and groove to the table that was sorely needed. Howe paid his dues playing the Easton/Allentown club circuit in the '80s with the band Duke, featuring his brother Al on lead vocals. When one of his instrumental demos grabbed the ear of talent scout and Shrapnel Records owner Mike Varney, Howe was signed to the Shrapnel label in 1987. His all-instrumental debut, Greg Howe, featuring the talents of Billy Sheehan and Atma Anur on bass and drums, respectively, was released in 1988, to considerable acclaim. Howe's second album, High Gear, released under the moniker Howe 2, was less a solo album than a Van Halen-styled band effort, featuring his brother Al Howe on lead vocals. The band broke up after releasing its more commercially minded follow-up, Now Hear This, in 1990 and Greg Howe returned to making all-instrumental albums in his home studio, taking a decidedly more fusion-styled direction. Howe released Introspection in 1993 and Uncertain Terms in 1994 and has continued to produce albums at a prolific rate since then. Aside from releasing Parallax and Five in 1995 and 1996, respectively, Howe collaborated with fellow Pennsylvania virtuoso and Shrapnel labelmate Richie Kotzen on the Tilt album in 1995 and again on 1997's Richie Kotzen/Greg Howe Project. His last Shrapnel album, Ascend, was released in 1999, followed by his debut on the Tone Center label, Hyperacuity, released in 2000. Outside of his solo career, Greg Howe is also a sought-after sideman who has toured with the likes of Michael Jackson and N'Sync. © Andy Hinds © 2013 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/greg-howe-mn0000195552