Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections", Steve Vai new album released on February 22, 2005 (by Red Ink).

Along with his one-time teacher Joe Satriani, six-string wizard Steve Vai set the standard for rock guitar virtuosity in the '80s. Born on June 6, 1960, and raised in Carle Place, NY, Vai became interested in the guitar via such legendary artists as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Alice Cooper as a teenager, and upon starting high school, took lessons with an older player from his high school, Joe Satriani. Playing in several local bands, Vai quickly picked up on the instrument, and by the age of 18 was attending the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston. As a student there, Vai transcribed several of Frank Zappa's most technically demanding compositions for guitar, and even sent a copy of one such transcription, "Black Page," to Zappa himself. Zappa was so impressed with the young guitarist that upon meeting him, he invited Vai to join his band.

The early 21st saw a flurry of releases from Steve Vai, including a compilation of instrumentals, "The 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies Archive, in 2000", and a year later, his first full-length live release, "Alive in an Ultra World", as well as his mammoth career-encompassing ten-disc box set, "The Secret Jewel Box". In 2002, he collected several pieces that he had contributed to films through the years, including the guitar duel from "Crossroads" and the theme to "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" and put them together in a 40 track collection called "The Elusive Light" and "Sound Vol. 1".

Over the years, Steve Vai has guested on countless albums by other artists, including Gregg Bissonette's self-titled debut and "Submarine," Alice Cooper's "Hey Stoopid," Randy Coven's "Funk Me Tender," Al DiMeola's "Infinite Desire," Joe Jackson's "Symphony 1," Billy Sheehan's "Compression". He can also be found on such additional Zappa releases as "Jazz From Hell," "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar," "Guitar," and on several volumes of the on-going "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore" series and the live tribute disc, Zappa's Universe. As if his busy schedule wasn't full enough, Steve Vai pursued a life-long interest in the late '90s, when he began harvesting honey among five bee colonies in the backyard of his home.

Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections" album tracklisting:
1. Building The Church
2. Dying For Your Love
3. Glorious Steve
4. K'm-Pee-Du-Wee
5. Firewall
6. Freak Show Excess
7. Lotus Feet
8. Yai Yai
9. Midway Creatures
10. J'm Your Secrets
11. Under It All

Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections" CD: ORDER IT NOW.