Following a hugely successful tour in 2014, Yes Guitarist Steve Howe is back on the road in the UK this month in support of the release of his solo anthology. It’s a tour which will see the prolific, world renowned musician and songwriter perform at Manchester’s Gorilla on 14 April.
As Steve Howe started playing the guitar over 50 years ago in the 1960’s “guitar boom “, he was given some encouragement by his siblings to listen to other styles of guitar playing which lead him to see the broader and more credible approaches that then diversified his own style, quite considerably. Jazz, classical, folk & country where then added to his interest in rock, pop & blues. He listened & watched as Segovia & Julian Bream, Wes Montgomery & Kenny Burrell, Big Bill Broonzy and Albert Lee took the guitar further than what was riding high in the pop charts.
It was against this backdrop that Howe went on to become one of the most successful and prolific guitarists around, with his early influences central to his development. On hearing Chet Atkins album ‘Teensville ‘, he noticed the compelling mix of technics & approaches that made categorising Chet almost impossible, yet defined the versatility that was brought together in one player. In particular Steve was impressed with Chet’s solo arrangements of well-known tunes and his own compositions.
And the influences have followed him throughout his career as he has become one of the most versatile of guitarists. From prog-rock to jazz, and pretty much everything in between, throughout his time in Yes, Asia, GTR, the Steve Howe Trio and as a soloist, Howe has consistently been recognised as one of the best in the business, a feat acknowledged by his multiple “Best Overall Guitarist” awards and induction in to the Guitar Player Hall of Fame.
Steve Howe will play some of his more familiar pieces plus several new tunes like Solitaire from Yes’s Fly From Here album, The Golden Mean and others from Motif, plus various arrangements of Yes songs and other tunes he’s picked up along the way. A few stories and songs thrown in for good measure should ensure a great evening.
His enjoyment for all this should be clear and pronounced, as he explores this territory that has helped define him as a world renowned guitar player.
Steve Howe performs at Gorilla on Tuesday 14 April. Tickets £20 plus booking fee.
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