Recorded during Canada's Vancouver Island (Canada) MusicFest in 2013, this set features the historic concert as it happened, with no editing, overdubbing, or studio alterations.
James Burton,
Amos Garrett,
Albert Lee, and David Wilcox were backed by
Garrett's regular road band -- Jon Greathouse (keyboards/lead vocals), Will MacGregor (bass), and Jason Harrison Smith (drums/background vocals). The program is a mix of energetic rockabilly, country, blues, and R&B standards. Particularly exciting here is the reading of "Suzie Q";
Burton played the now iconic riff on
Dale Hawkins' 1957 original single. Others include stellar takes on
Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk,"
Joe Turner's "Flip, Flop and Fly," and
Tony Joe White's swamptastick "Polk Salad Annie." There's also a knotty hard bop take on "Coming Home Baby," first recorded by the Dave Bailey Quintet -- six weeks before the hit version by
Herbie Mann. The players trade slippery fours and dig deep into the tune's blues feel. The vibe of Guitar Heroes is electrifying despite the relaxed presentation. It will certainly appeal to roots music fans in general, but for guitar fanatics, this is almost a Holy Grail.