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Steve & Virgil Howe: Lunar Mist
Steve & Virgil Howe - Lunar Mist Album Art

Steve & Virgil Howe: Lunar Mist

Instrumental Guitar
No Score

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InsideOut Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.09.2022 | Released: 23.09.2022

With little doubt, you know guitarist Steve Howe from his Yes fame. The talented musician has also had a protracted solo career which takes him beyond the musical realms of Yes. He also has a musical family legacy with his sons Dylan, mostly a drummer, (The Blockheads, Yes, et al) and Virgil, also drummer and a keyboard player, (Little Barrie, Steve Howe Band, Yes). The latter, unfortunately, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the young age of 41. As most would agree, the grief that comes with a parent outliving a child is heart wrenching.

Steve & Virgil Howe Click For Larger Image

Steve & Virgil Howe

However, before this tragic event Steve and Virgil were working on their first collaborative effort. Steve would go on to release the album, Nexus, in memory of his son two months later. Now, with memory, inspiration, and many musical notes and arrangements, Father Howe returns to release a second posthumous release with his son, Lunar Mist.

The album, as far as I can tell, is a totally instrumental recording, which features, largely, Steve Howe's creative and inventive guitar skills. Because I'm only a non-technical to fair musician, I don't pretend to know the delicate nuances of Howe's guitar work. It's enough to say this: Lunar Mist simply displays Howe's immense talent that has come form a lifetime of experience. He's a craftsman, a guitarist's guitarist, who has and will never stand still. This album shows his diverse musical interests, from Yes prog to traditional rock, from blues (though subtle) to jazz, jazz fusion, and free form guitar. It's a terrific listen. A contrast or intersection of creativity and pop sensibility that is truly sublime.

Not to be minimalist or derogatory, Lunar Mist is the kind of album you might play during a relaxed evening with friends over for wine, dinner, and conversation. I suspect that more than a few friends attending would ask, what is that playing? Wherein, you might answer, it's some of the finest guitar playing you might ever encounter. All said, Steve and Virgil Howe's Lunar Mist, as a fantastic and creative album of instrumental, guitar-forward,neo-prog and jazz fusion that will entertain and please any listener who loves the same. Quite recommended.



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The Take Away

All said, Steve and Virgil Howe's Lunar Mist, as a fantastic and creative album of instrumental, guitar-forward,neo-prog and jazz fusion that will entertain and please any listener who loves the same. Quite recommended.

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