Steve Morse pays tribute to Jeff beck

Sadly, Morse is afflicted with serious arthritis. Notice how he plays much more from the elbow, now. Rick Beato did an interview with him in which he goes into, among other things, his efforts to find workarounds.

I saw him just once with the Dregs at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz in the late 70’s. One thing I love about older players is their lack of ego and their focus upon playing for the music and playing to communicate emotion. 

@onhwy61

I suspect I’m not the only one who unconsciously assumes my heroes will never grow old. Watched Otis Gibb’s interview with Ray Benson last week and I wouldn’t have recognized him, had I not known who he was before tuning in.

@tablejockey 

A Jeff Beck cover is a tall order. 

Morse is in the small company of players who can pull it off.

I agree...

@mitchagain 

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check it out. 

@rettrussell 

The price of repair was that Steve come and jam with them in their rehearsal space.....and he came down and played!

Wow !  They must be pretty hot players. I can't imagine placing myself in that situation. 

@rettrussell 

I see. I had an instructional cassette by him way back in the early 80's, so teaching was clearly something that appealed to him. What an opportunity!  

Glad you all enjoyed the video. I came across it after watching Rick Beato's interview with Steve. If you want to watch the interview, here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jxp9k72M1c

@crustycoot 

The only element JB brought that Morse misses is the occasional outburst of blues aggression.  Maybe it’s the compression or lower volume, but when Beck wants to let the anger out, you know it, and in Morse’s hands it seems muted.  But I am delighted to have been introduced to a master player.  

I see what you mean. Perhaps it has to do with Beck's age at the time Blow By Blow was recorded relative to Morse's age when he covered the tune.

@tablejockey 

Two very different tunes.

Given Beck's gift for interpreting and personalizing melodies, I for one am glad he ended up with the tune with the greater potential for melodic playing. 

@cycles2

Steve needs to throw away the pick as it adds too much staccato to the beautiful and flowing melody.

It’s a matter of opinion whether Morse’s version is "too staccato".

Setting that question aside, you must be one heck of a player to be giving S. Morse advice on technique!

@sweiss1590 

Glad this opened some doors for you!  

The Dregs are definitely not "boring". 

@slofut

How lucky for you to have known him!

Ampeg SVT's?

You’re a bass player ?

@slofut 

I imagine it was very inspiring to spend time with such a player!