Derek Sherinian

11,874

5 Stars

*The artwork for Vortex shows a keyboard that has obviously been through the vortex more than once. Very Star Trek. The keyboards from strange new worlds certainly caught Mott the Dog’s attention.*

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Derek Sherinian is an incredible keyboard player with a unique style of his own, known as ‘Guitaristic,’ a very aggressive sound.

He is also one of the most in demand session and touring keyboard players in the world.

He has already been a member of those complex prog rockers Dream Theater from 1994-1999, formed his own band Planet X, been a founding member of super groups Black Country Communion, Portnoy – McCalpin – Sheehan – Sherinian, and Sons of Apollo. He has toured or recorded with Alice Cooper, Kiss, Joe Bonamassa, Yngwie Malmsteen (who Derek Sherinian played with at Bangkok’s Thunderdome in 2006), Buddy Miles, Whitesnake, Billy Idol … hang on, maybe it’s easier if I just wrote down who he has not played with.

*The Maestro Derek Sherinian at work. He does like a keyboard or two to play on.*

On July 1st 2022, he released his ninth solo album “Vortex.” Not bad eh? He was still only 55, with a long way to go in his career.

For this album, Derek Sherinian has not just put his keyboards in the studio and recorded, he has also brought along some of his premier league guitar player mates to play with him. It’s his solo album, but no selfish moves here allowing only a small amount of space for the guitarists to play. They are 100% given free rein to let rip. Which much to all our joy they do.

*Steve Stevens, probably best known for his work with Billy Idol, but*
*he is so much more than that as can be heard here on this album or*
*in the excellent theme to Top Gun.*

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Vortex, the opener and title track, is shared with Steve Stevens. It’s a total balls to the wall rocker, demanding your attention as each soloist blazes away. Like the rest of this collection there are no vocals (no room?) so the instrumentalists can wreak havoc.

‘Fire Horse’ comes on in similar if slightly proggier style with Nuno Bettencourt on lead guitar. Even in this line up of the finest, Nuno’s playing stands out. As those of you who saw him on stage in Bangkok with Generation Axe 2017 (also with Derek Sherinian) will vouch, this boy can play. Derek Sherinian’s keyboard solo is a solid Hammond sound, something I wish he would do more often.

*Nuno Bettencourt came into the spotlight with American funk rock*
*band Extreme. He was the rock half. His Portuguese good looks*
*make him a firm favorite with the girls while the guys bang their*
*head to his fret work.*

‘Scorpion’ is the only piece on the album with no guest guitarist. As expected, Derek Sherinian takes center stage with a jazz feel from the outer limits. Tony Franklin on bass and Simon Philips on drums get to show their undoubted skills on this; they are right up there with the best in the world, too.

On ‘Seven Seas,’ Steve Stevens is back on guitar, this time in a more ensemble type jazzy rocker. Almost like King Crimson circa 1974 on a good night. A pure delight.

If you want to get greedy now is the time.

‘Key Lime Blues’ with its very Stevie Wonder inspired feel has not one but two of the best exponents of the electric lead guitar on it, with Joe Bonamassa and Steve Lukather vying for the spotlight. A guitarist’s wet dream. The interplay is mind-blowing.

*Joe Bonamassa – what can be said about this guy that has not*
*already been said? He has an excellent solo career, but found time*
*to form Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes, Jason*
*Bonham and of course Derek Sherinian. Their mutual respect and*
*admiration is clear on this album.*

Then we are served up over six minutes of ‘Die Kobra.’ After a very Eastern opening, the three instrumentalists come crashing in. Derek Sherinian with Michael Schenker and Zakk Wylde on guitars. You can hear their smiles in the music, plus Zakk must’ve been headbangin like the devil in the hard rockin’ sections. There is real pomp and circumstance to this. But when they rock the roof comes off.

If you think this all sounds a bit grand, possibly epic? The best is kept for last, as the principal players take to the stage with our very own Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal on his twin neck guitar. Not such a rocker this one, but coming in at over eleven minutes it certainly has class, leaving musical notes scattered to the seven winds.

This album was produced by Derek Sherinian with help from Simon Phillips.

More than ever, Derek Sherinian deserves a hit album under his own banner. Hopefully this will be it.