On occasion, I am in the mood for a solid instrumental guitar album, and for many years, Neal Schon’s 2005 album “I On U” was one of my favorites. Schon has returned to the instrumental format with his latest release, “The Calling.”
While I enjoy instrumental albums by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John 5, my favorite instrumental players are Steve Morse, Rik Emmett and Neal Schon. Like Morse and Emmett, I am a fan of Schon’s work with Journey, so the occasional instrumental album is quite a treat.
This album exceeded my expectations. Schon is playing with former Journey drummer Steve Smith, and while no one can deny that Journey’s Dean Castronovo is a beast on the drums, Smith and Schon have an undeniable chemistry that remains magical.
There are some standout tracks, including “Irish Field” and “Tumbleweeds,” but overall the album is incredibly consistent in its aggressiveness. The appearance of Jan Hammer only adds to what is a great album.
Fans of instrumental rock guitar will absolutely love “The Calling,” as should Journey fans that don’t mind doing without a vocalist for an album.
