"In from the Storm" (RCA Victor)
"Purple Haze"(MusicMasters)
By BILL KISLIUK
Illustration by David Cowles
More than 25 years after he moved on to the next world, guitarist Jimi Hendrix still has a powerful influence on musicians who inhabit his former planet. His compositions have been reworked by artists as diverse as gentle jazz arranger Gil Evans, rapper Ice-T's Body Count and alternative rockers The Cure.
Two recently released Hendrix tributes reveal the potentials and pitfalls of reinventing the works of the master. "In from the Storm" (RCA Victor) is a star-studded tribute to Jimi, with heavyweights including Carlos Santana, Sting, John McLaughlin, Spin Doctor Erik Schenkman and Brian May of Queen joining Hendrix alumni Noel Redding, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. On the Lonnie Smith Trio's "Purple Haze" (MusicMasters), jazz organist Smith, guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith retool and extend four Hendrix tunes.
Hendrix appeared to be on the edge of new creative bursts just before his death in 1970. He told confidantes including "In from the Storm" producer and engineer Eddie Kramer, who mixed some of Hendrix' most adventurous work and helped put together the 1993 tribute "Stone Free" (with Buddy Guy, the Pretenders and Belly, among others), that he would like to record with full symphonic backing. "In from the Storm" is an effort to flesh out that notion.
But, save for the interesting use of the London Metropolitan Orchestra on harmonica player Toots Thielmans' instrumental "Little Wing," the orchestra is just an extra layer of frosting on an already rich confection. The nine featured guitarists on board, ranging from L.A. studio whiz Steve Lukather to Zappa disciple Steve Vai, are all more than competent. But with the exception of fusion pioneer John McLaughlin, they are disappointingly faithful to Jimi's Stratocaster atmospherics without, of course, being Jimi.
Next page: Channeling Jimi on the Hammond B-3
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