Les Paul & Friends - A tribute to a legend is a fitting honor to the genre-crossing icon with an eclectic collection of musicians spanning the musical spectrum. From the hard hitting thunder of Joe Bonamassa party rock guitar, to the fluid almost ethereal guitar groove provided by guitar icon Slash, this CD covers the gamut of guitar and recording techniques. Solid tributes, most of which also include the 93-year old Les Paul are turned in by Johnny Rzeznik covering U2's All I Ever Want Is You, Joan Osborne's smoky rendition of I Don't Wanna Be With Anybody But You, and even Richie Sambora's spiritual vocal on Great Hall Of Fame. Fans of instrumental music will marvel at tracks by noted guitarist Jeff Golub, Chieli Minucci and Steve Lukather's fluid work on the Todd Rundgren classic I Saw The Light (offered here as a bonus download).
This CD serves as a tribute, not only to the man, but also to these techniques that Les Paul invented as well as to the Les Paul guitar and the inspiration he provided the many guests that appear on this release. Notably Les Paul himself plays alongside his protégé's on several tracks. Sadly, it was during the post production of this CD that famed barefoot guitarist Hiram Bullock passed away making this his last official recording. Not only is this a tribute to the man, Les Paul; it's also a tribute to his recording techniques and the inspiration he provided the many guests that appear on this release.
Commenting on the making of this disc, featured artist Slash says "This is a record where instead of playing Les Paul's music & trying to imitate his inimitable style, it is a showcase of guitar players doing their own thing, but in tribute to his influence on our musicianship, recording techniques & use of effects. All of which wouldn't be anything like what they are if it weren't for Les Paul's creative & technical pioneering genius. And, at 93 yrs old he is still as obsessed with pioneering as many new gadgets & techniques to make life more interesting, as he always has been."
