Live Stu X 2

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai seemed to hog all the press in guitar mags during the late '80s and early '90s, as both six-string shredders scored big with fans of hard-rocking instrumental music. But bassist Stuart Hamm also received quite a bit of coverage around that time as well, due to the fact that he played alongside the two aforementioned artists. And while his solo recording career didn't move the amount of units that both Satriani and Vai did (thanks to such popular titles as Flying in a Blue Dream and Passion and Warfare), Hamm has issued sporadic solo albums along the way, with his first-ever live solo album, Live Stu x 2 arriving in 2007. Recorded from performances in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, you'll find renditions of tracks from throughout Hamm's long and winding career, with an emphasis (obviously) on the bass guitar throughout. Included are such early fan favorites as "Terminal Beach" and "Radio Free Albemuth," the latter of which contains some nifty slap funk from Hamm. Additionally, you'll find tracks that focus solely on Hamm and his instrument ("Nostalgia") as well as compositions that fully utilize a band in a rock setting ("Lone Star") and an easy listening jazz setting ("Yellow Happy"). And it all ends on a tranquil note, with the almost lullaby-esque "A New Peace." Stuart Hamm continues to impress with this bass technique, as evidenced throughout Live Stu x 2.