Steve Morse pays tribute to Jeff beck

I'm age 68. I've heard the name Steve Morse before, but never heard him play (unless incidentally). I never developed an interest in Dixie Dregs because I thought it would be another boring Southern Rock band.

Well, after watching this video, consider me appropriately spanked. I've now started watching the Rick Beato interview, and I'll check out Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, etc., etc., to hear more of Steve Morse. Thanks!

@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!

As Rick Beato states, 'Jeff Beck isn't copiable - he's 1 of 1'.

Steve needs to throw away the pick as it adds too much staccato to the beautiful and flowing melody.  He also needs to get a guitar with a whammy bar if he wants to emulate Beck.  I forgot, there is no copying Beck.  I've seen him a dozen times when he began with Rod Stewart, his solo tours and with SRV and ZZ Top. The most amazing part is that he seemed to get better every year of his career.

@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. 

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.

2 different interpretations.

The story behind the song. Thanks to Stevie Wonder. 

https://www.musicradar.com/news/jeff-beck-stevie-wonder-superstition-cause-weve-ended-as-lovers

The original LP version is has always been a favorite.

Wonderful.  Thanks!

I enjoyed the Dreggs several times in Chapel Hill mid 70s.  Didn’t realize what a legend at the time. 
 

@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.

I am almost 73, and one of my first music crushes was the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck.  Having A Rave-Up was my first album purchase.  Jeff’s melodic ear added a dimension to his blues chops that his contemporaries Clapton, Page, Green, and Taylor didn’t have.  Listen to New York City Blues…completely unique phrasing, yet completely within the blues idiom.  Beck brought the aggressive blues edge to his fusion playing, too.  This brings me to the Steve Morse tribute performance stuartk posted…I had never heard Steve Morse!  I just streamed a Dixie Dregs album to find out what I had missed. The posted track is magnificent, equaling the feel and sound of JB’ version and impressively expanding on it…with finger vibrato and string bending instead of the whammy bar Beck used.  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.  

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

@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!  

stuartk

Very nice! I am certain that it is difficult to play tribute to Mr. Beck.

Happy Listening!

So cool - caught them live 1981 i think Agora ballroom in Columbus, Ohio…. a blistering show….. 

thx for posting the tribute….

What a treat!  Thank you for sharing it.

The thing is....they were competent players but weren't in bands and the rehearsal space was in the back of one of the guy's houses.

He lived in middle Florida, Ocala I think, at the time so he had to drive down to Tampa to drop off the truck.

It was a learning situation for them and they were completely blown away that Steve actually agreed to do it.......of course, he got his truck repaired for free and they had the music experience of their lives.

@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. 

Steve Morse is indeed a class act.

Musician friends of mine in Tampa, who own an automobile body repair shop, traded Steve to repair a vehicle of his in the aughts (?).

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

The solo album High Tension Wires was a favorite of mine that I may have to dust off.....

Class playing tribute to class. This is one of the reasons music touches all cultures.

@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. 

@stuartk 

Thanks for that! I was fortunate to have seen The Dregs in 1978 and the most recent reunion tour in 2018. I have a couple of friends who lived in Macon in the 1970's and got to see them in local bars before they signed with Capricorn Records. I alerted both to this video and they thrilled, to say the least.

For anyone inspired enough to pull out a Dixie Dregs album or CD after a long absence, look into the recent remaster of "Freefall" - "What If" & "Night of the Living Dregs." It is a 2 CD package put out by BGO Records in 2024; and, it's the best sounding recording of theirs that I've heard by far!

@stuartk

Yes, thank you for that. I met him (Steve) a while back and he was just as gracious as I expected.

Gotta love the Dixie Dregs!

what a beautiful tribute.

Excellent video!

AWESOME!

What a wonderful way to start my day!  Thank you @stuartk !

Thanks @stuartk. Great way to start the morning. 

Nicely played. Appreciate the link stuartk.

 A Jeff Beck cover is a tall order. 

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

That was a good performance, thank you..

@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.

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. 

Great video. Thanks.

Amazing playing and super cool to be able to see so clearly how he plays.  I haven't played my Dixie Dregs album in eons.  Thanks for reminding me about it.

That was very nice.  Thank You!

From the looks of it the bandmates weren't even born when Mr. Beck did the original recording.  It's been awhile...