http://noted.blogs.com/westcoastmusic/2004/12/neal_schon_i_on.html

What could be next for a musician who's done it all? As the lead guitarist and
songwriter for the multi-platinum band Journey, his work with guitar legend
Santana and composer Jan Hammer, Neal Schon has lived the life of several rock
gods. Still, Neal Schon continues to reinvent himself, taking his own musical
vision to new heights with his sixth solo outing, "I on U," a dazzling
collection of guitar instrumentals. It's due out February 22, 2005 on Steve
Vai's Favored Nations label.

Playing with modern sounds and flavors, yet always staying true to his signature
guitar sound, "I on U" pulls it all together. Says Neal Schon, "This is the
first album that encompasses everything and makes it brand new."
"Since I joined Santana," Neal Schon continues, "I've always tried to go into
every album in a different way. "I on U" is taking me to a new place and new
sounds, but you can hear my years of work throughout the whole album. Sitting
back and listening to it now, the history with Santana and Jan Hammer really
shines through."

For his new album "I on U," Neal Schon teamed up with keyboardist and songwriter
Igor Len as co-producer, and drummer Omar Hakim.
"When I was on tour and trying to put the first stages of this record together,"
Neal Schon says, "I called Igor Len, who I had worked with on my "Electric
World" solo album, and asked him to be involved. He sent me some tracks that he
was working on, and they were going exactly in the direction I wanted to go with
my music. So I took his hooks, added all of the guitar parts and synthesizer
solos, and embellished and tweaked them from there. Although I wrote "Father,"
"Moondust," and "Highland" on my own."

Each listener will experience the album differently. From the majestic opening
of "Blue Passion," and the soaring melodies of the title track, the songs
suggest wide open spaces, an overview of what's to come, with tracks like the
driving, passionate "Burning Bridges". Then it's on to the far off reaches of
the imagination, with the arpeggiated rhythms of "Timeless Motion," the spicy
funk of "Loner's Dream," and the eastern flair of "It Will Happen".

"The guitar is one of the most expressive instruments of our time," proclaims
Neal Schon. "I want the listener to be able to imagine whatever they want since
there are no lyrics. And have the music take them to any place they want to be."



regards,


Russ Blomstedt
http://blomstedt.ssr.be
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