Neal Schon
“Vortex”
MTR 7465
GRAMMY NOMINATED GUITAR GIANT NEAL SCHON RELEASES EPIC, INVENTIVE ALL-INSTRUMENTAL DOUBLE ALBUM
Journey leader’s 18-song Vortex also features keyboard legend Jan Hammer
and Journey’s Steve Smith; reunion with Carlos Santana underway
Legendary guitar hero Neal Schon’s daring all-instrumental album Vortex sets a new creative bar for rock-based six-string.
But rock is just the foundation of Schon’s playing on this fast-paced 18-song magnum opus. His eclectic scope also
embraces jazz, classical and world music in Vortex’s stunning, sonically explosive collection of original compositions. The
release is dedicated to Schon's best friend and wife, who serves as his true inspiration every day. Both "Lady M" and
"Triumph of Love" were written for her, the latter of which he performed at their wedding on December 15, 2013.
“This is an evolutionary album for me,” says Schon. “I’ve always aspired to be a better player and push musical
boundaries. And sure, I’ve sold 80-million records with Journey, and I’m proud of that, but this album is really me — all
based on my guitar, which is my ‘voice.’ It’s bold. There’s love, and there’s definitely fire and an element of danger. And
the energy level is off the hook.”
That’s evident from the first, mysterious-sounding measures of “Miles Beyond,” the scalding tribute to jazz genius Miles
Davis’ pioneering fusion recordings that opens the album. The tune blends Schon’s soaring leads, tectonic plates of
grinding rhythm and brilliantly layered melodies within an arrangement that embraces Middle Eastern flourishes plus
flashes of African drumming by Steve Smith. “Schon & Hammer Now” is a furious jam between the guitarist and his
longtime friend and creative foil, Grammy-winning keyboardist Jan Hammer, whose many accomplishments include
charter membership in the groundbreaking Mahavishnu Orchestra.
“Jan is all over this album,” Schon explains. And the two match their brilliant technique and relentless invention
throughout, sparring with the grace and speed of a young Mohammad Ali. “I wrote the material to give Jan room to
stretch,” the six-string virtuoso continues. “There are not many three minute ditties. It’s all huge, epic, bombastic…
futuristic.”
After hearing the completed album for the first time, Hammer made a succinct observation: “This is fucking amazing.”
“Airliner NS910” is further proof. It’s all speed and swagger, with Schon skywriting the song’s sweetly singing theme in the
indelible vapor trail of the instantly recognizable operatic tones of his signature model Paul Reed Smith guitars. “Since
Vortex is a two-record set, it's both my ninth and tenth solo albums,” Schon says with glee. “That’s where the ‘NS910’
comes from.”
The music of Vortex originated in the hard drives that Schon is constantly filling with ideas for riffs, melodies and chord
progressions at home. But they came to life at Berkeley’s Fantasy Studios, his preferred spot for recording since Journey
cut the 10-times-platinum number-one album Escape there in 1981. “It’s my home away from home,” Schon relates. “I
spend so much time there that they’ve given me my own locker.”
Schon produced and played bass on Vortex, too, and was joined in the studio by Smith and keyboardist Igor Len. Hammer
and Len also appeared on Schon’s seventh solo album, The Calling, which was followed by the blues-inspired hard rock
album So U.
For further information and/or interview requests, please contact Rikkert Dahmen, Mascot-Provogue Records
Tel +31-10-5120384
Fax +31-10-5121170
[email protected]
Neal Schon
“Vortex”
MTR 7465
“Igor and Jan complement each other, and me, beautifully,” says Schon. And Vortex’s “Eternal Love” is a testament to
Len’s creativity. The song, a richly emotional ballad, features Len alone on piano. “He sat down and played the tune
spontaneously, and it was so gorgeous and deep that I had to have it on my album,” Schon observes.
Schon offers his own reflective solo performance on Vortex with the sparsely arranged acoustic guitar meditation “Mom,”
dedicated to his mother, Barbara Schon. “Like most of the performances on this album, it wasn’t premeditated,” Schon
says. “I’d just pick up a guitar and tell my engineer Jesse Nichols to hit ProTools.”
The intensely creative guitar giant has always had a seemingly innate ability to make glorious music. He began playing at
age five and was inspired by soul vocalists like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, and blues and jazz guitarists ranging
from B.B. King Albert King, and Eric Clapton to Wes Montgomery. When Schon was just 15 years old, Carlos Santana
invited him to join his band. Schon’s recording debut was on the classic 1971 album Santana III. He played the solo on the
LP’s hit single “Everybody’s Everything.”
Recently Schon has been working with Carlos Santana on a new album, co-writing songs and playing key performances
including homecoming Santana concerts in Guadalajara and Mexico City that included Journey as the opening band.
“Carlos invited me to play four songs with him, including ‘No One To Depend On’ and ‘Everybody’s Everything,’ that I
hadn’t played since 1972,” Schon recounts. “It was beautiful and we’ve really reignited our friendship. Carlos and I are
tighter today than when I was 15 and we hung out and played every day. And I’m all over his upcoming project.”
Schon formed Journey in 1973 and has led the band through its astonishing 42-year history. Along the way Journey has
sold well over 80 million albums, amongst which the band's Greatest Hits release was certified Diamond by the RIAA for
sales in excess of 10 million copies. To date sales now exceed 15 million copies. Eight other Journey releases have been
certified multi-platinum. The group has had 18 Top 40 singles including the timeless hits “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” and
“Who’s Crying Now.” Schon has received multiple Grammy award nominations for both his work with Journey and his solo
recordings. And Journey has been nominated for the Rock ‘n’ Hall of Fame.
Besides solo albums and tours and his historic work with Journey, Schon has an extensive history of blue-ribbon
collaborations. These include co-founding the supergroup Bad English and forming bands with vocalists Paul Rodgers and
Sammy Hagar. He released two collaboration albums with Jan Hammer, Untold Passion and Here To Stay, while also
performing on releases from Michael Bolton, Return to Forever’s Lenny White and many others.
One thing he’s never done is considered resting on his laurels. “I feel more aware and alive now than I've ever been,” he
says. “Part of that is the sobriety I've had for the last seven years. I’ve also evolved as a person and a player though
understanding the value of being in the moment – letting things happen and not thinking too much. There's an old blues
saying: ‘If you’re thinkin’, you’re stinkin’.’ When you stop thinking and just play from the heart, you discover your own
voice. That’s the real thing, and that’s what Vortex is about for me.”
Neal Schon - Vortex
Tracklist
CD1
1. Miles Beyond
2. Awakening
3. Cuban Fly Zone
4. El Matador
5. Eternal Love
6. In A Cloud
7. Irish Cream
8. Lady M (Our Love Remains)
9. Airliner NS910
CD2
1. Tortured Souls
2. Schon & Hammer Now
3. NS Vortex
4. Unspoken Faith
5. Twilight † Spellbound
6. Triumph Of Love
7. Mom
8. Talk To Me
9. White Light
More info
www.mascotlabelgroup.com
www.schonmusic.com
www.facebook.com/schonmusic
Twitter: @NealSchonMusic
Click here for art
Releasedate: 22-06-2015
For further information and/or interview requests, please contact Rikkert Dahmen, Mascot-Provogue Records
Tel +31-10-5120384
Fax +31-10-5121170
[email protected]