Steve Vai

<PRE> Guitar Virtuoso Realizes Ultra World Vision Unprecedented Vai Project Raises the Conceptual Bar Slated for a June 19 release on Epic Records, Steve Vai's Alive in an Ultra World is more than the guitarist's first double live album - it's a first for the recording industry. Perhaps the most unique and adventurous live project to date, Alive in an Ultra World is the ambitious realization of a truly visionary concept. Entirely written, rehearsed, and recorded during Vai's 32 country Ultra Zone tour, the compositions of Alive in the Ultra World were created specifically to reflect elements of the traditional music of the cultures Vai toured. After researching over 150 ethnic albums and playing 104 shows, Vai brought Alive in an Ultra World to fruition. "Sequestering myself with traditional music from various countries of the world and writing an album based on their cultures, and recording the songs in these exotic countries was a life long fantasy of mine," explains Vai in the liner notes. "When the temptation and the incessant daydreams reached an uncontrollable peak, the construction of this record became a reality." Constructing Alive in an Ultra World involved many challenges, from building and hauling a technically viable mobile studio to translating Vai's extensive research and vision into arrangements for a five piece band. Vai was also confronted with challenges raised by international recording laws, nonexistent sound checks, and venues attempting to charge exorbitant amounts to record at their facilities. "It didn't matter what it was going to take, because when I get an inclination to do something, and it's that strong, I've never let anything stand in my way," explains Vai. Vai's efforts culminated in a series of powerful and emotive compositions true to their ethnic roots. The militaristic march and tonality of "Giant Balls of Gold (song for Poland)" reflects the determination of a proud people united behind Solidarity. Flamenco guitar flurries paint an ethnic beginning for "Iberian Jewel (song for Spain)," which grows into an explosive series of inspired guitar and key progressions, maintaining an authentic haunting feel throughout. While rare gems like "Giant Balls of Gold" were conceived and recorded in less than 15 minutes, others like "Whispering a Prayer (song for Ireland)" required a unique moment of revelation to bring them to consciousness. Intimate and beautiful, the soulful song reaches transcendental peaks, silencing its Argentinean audience with powerful flourishes of passionate guitar work. Vai explains the song's genesis in the liner notes. "Lights out, ear plugs in, 4 am and parked in the middle of the city (Dublin). That is where I invited the intimacies of that civilization into my inner ear, and this melody is what they had to say." Written in Greece, the wildly entertaining and anthemic "Incantation (song for Bulgaria)" was recorded before an enthusiastic audience in Istanbul, Turkey the night after the Turks had defeated the English in a major soccer championship. "I remember at one point during the solo, our heads were down playing this whipping melody and the audience just swelled," explains Vai. "When I repeated it at the end, the audience was singing it after only hearing it for the first time three minutes prior." Whether written and recorded in minutes or days, live or during sound checks, the songs of Alive in an Ultra World radiate a strong sense of admiration for their respective cultures via performance, tonality, and ethnic validity. "These songs were written out of respect for the different cultures, and in each song there's a reflection of my great appreciation and good fortune for being able to visit and embrace these cultures," explains Vai. Following the release of Alive in an Ultra World, Vai will have the opportunity to embrace American culture on the fifth incarnation of the G3 tour with long time friend Joe Satriani and John Petrucci of Dream Theater beginning June 23. With Alive in an Ultra World, Steve Vai takes composition and performance to unprecedented levels, exposing audiences to a world of music. </PRE>  <HR align='center' width='50%'> <B>Your browser does not support frames!</B><BR><BR> Some of the features on this site require a frames-capable browser, since much of the functionality would be impossible without frames. 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