If there was one guitarist who had his very own tone and timbre, a six stringer who radically rewrote the rulebook and set an impossibly high standard for all who followed, it was undoubtedly Jimi Hendrix. There’s a reason why his songs are rarely covered well (if at all) and they tend to make even the most accomplished guitarist look like a novice. It takes a brave soul to stand next to Jimi’s fire, and that’s where Paul Gilbert steps in. Back in 1991, the Mr Big man released a five song, album length EP dedicated to Jimi, and A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix now gets its very first digital release, and it smokes like Jimi’s guitar at Monterey.
Paul Gilbert has won countless accolades for his unique style, most pertaining to his shredding (famously topping the list of Loudwire’s “10 Stupidly Fast Guitarists In Metal”), and he took his instrument into unexplored territory. As with Jimi, Paul had a pioneering spirit and that’s something he brings to this album. However, those whom only know Paul from his frenetic fretwork fireworks might be surprised at his playing on here, or maybe not. The faster tracks from Jimi’s discography are largely eschewed in favour of more bluesy numbers and evidence a different facet of Paul’s playing. In that respect, A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix was a brave move, and in a case of fortune favouring those of a courageous disposition, it really works. It’s with the bluesy ‘Red House’ that this album gets underway and finds Paul making his guitar sing; it’s instantly recognisable as a Hendrix tune and Paul doesn’t stray too far from the original, yet it’s no facsimile either and he certainly stamps his own personality on proceedings. What’s most noticeable is Paul’s unique tone, the blues format putting it in the spotlight where it often gets lost in the blur of shred. Here, as on most of the album, every note hangs in the air and sticks around like a penny dropped in treacle. Throughout this record, Paul’s playing is deliberately restrained, yet there are moments when you can sense his fingers are itching to go faster, yet he flips that urge on its head and inserts a bluesy passage in the centre of a lively ‘Highway Chile’.
There’s a joy that emanates from the grooves of ‘Midnight’, Paul unleashing the kind of solo you wish would carry on into perpetuity, you feel that he has totally immersed himself in this project and is playing from within these songs. The only place where this album falls slightly short is in the vocal department. While there’s nothing wrong with Paul’s voice per se, it doesn’t carry the same weight as Jimi did on ‘Purple Haze’. But that’s only a minor quibble and this album finds a student paying tribute to his teacher, and in stupendous fashion.
- A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix is released via Mascot Label Group on 12th June 2026.
Track List:
- Red House
- Hey Joe
- Highway Chile
- Midnight
- Purple Haze
