One of a continuing series in regards to the myriad variety of Trevor’s discography.
As long-time fans are aware, Trevor has been involved in many projects/sessions/appearances over the years and some of them are rare - relegated to whomever might have witnessed the proceedings - and some of them yet remain unknown. For example, all we truly know of Trevor's guest spot with Bob Dylan is what he's related in interviews. As I noted in my essay "Trev & Zimmy" there's no actual credit for Trevor playing on any of Dylan's albums. It's possible he just wasn't credited on a particular release, but there's no way to know for certain unless someone who was directly involved in the production comes forward with actual verification.
Another such appearance - which I made note of in that same entry - involves Trevor's participation on an album put together by his friend and fellow guitar legend Steve Morse. I had read vague hints of this project, then in 2009 Trevor made mention of it during an interview with Movie Geeks United. In response to a fan query regarding his recording of Mussorgsky's "Promenade" (the introduction of the suite Pictures at an Exhibition), Trevor elaborated on transposing classical compositions to guitar:
I do that sometimes, so, you know, that one I put on an album and it's there. But I've also, which, I think it was released actually, I did Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with just guitars.
He went on to state that it was for a "Steve Morse and Friends" compilation of classical pieces on guitar. Trevor had already recorded his selection on his own, but when invited to participate gave it to Morse for inclusion on the album. He concluded by saying, "It is on an album somewhere." But in light of this reference I had a very difficult time finding any evidence of the purported release. However, I did eventually come across two mentions...for an album which doesn't appear to actually exist.
According to an entry on the Deep Purple fansite The Highway Star, Steve did in fact curate a collection which featured "many of the world's best guitar players[...]to record favorite classical bits" and listed Trevor among the participants. The other reference was on an Albert Lee fansite (dated 1998) and what was known of the tracklist at that time was pretty fantastic.
Albert Lee - Handel's "Largo" from Serse Steve Morse - Handel's The Water Music Peter Frampton - Concerto No. 5 in F Minor by Bach John Petrucci - "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Rimsky-Korsakov Marty Freedman - "Meditation" from Thais by Jules Massenet Steve Howe - Bach's Cantana 140 Trevor Rabin - Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 Dweezil Zappa - Suites from Carmen by Bizet Al DiMeola - "Tango" by Astor Piazzolla Jorma Kaukonen - Pachelbel's Canon Mike Stern - Gymnopédie No.1 by Erik Satie Patty Larkin - T.B.A. |
Supposedly the album was slated for release by Windham Hill Records in 1999. So Trevor's citation in the MGU interview - if it was incorrect - might explain why it took me so long to find any mention of it, if it was indeed from the Ninth Symphony as opposed to the Fifth. I think the only way we could definitely find out which piece it was is if Trevor retained a copy in his archives and perhaps would be kind enough to share it with us via his Soundcloud account since there's no evidence that it was released. The lack of official information leads me to believe the album was shelved, which is a shame because it seems like it would have been a really great collection to hear, especially since we do have evidence of Trevor's classical-on-guitar mindset on "Promenade."
As an interesting sidenote, Movement 10 of Pictures at an Exhibition ("The Great Gate of Kiev") was Trevor's personally-curated selection for the 1996 orchestral compilation Exile on Classical Street.
Trevor has noted in other interviews that he would like to record an all-guitar classical album, which would truly be a wonderful thing, in my opinion...perhaps if he seriously commits to it in a few years we might finally get to hear the Fifth - or Ninth - in all its' glory as well.
As an interesting sidenote, Movement 10 of Pictures at an Exhibition ("The Great Gate of Kiev") was Trevor's personally-curated selection for the 1996 orchestral compilation Exile on Classical Street.
Trevor has noted in other interviews that he would like to record an all-guitar classical album, which would truly be a wonderful thing, in my opinion...perhaps if he seriously commits to it in a few years we might finally get to hear the Fifth - or Ninth - in all its' glory as well.
