Steve Howe Talks To Jazz Guitar Today

The iconic Yes guitarist Steve Howe talks to Jazz Guitar Today's Bob Bakert about his many jazz influences - and about what he is currently up to today.

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[bbb]

He has blown my mind so many times with his originality. All of Yes did this to me. I was a teen and musician in the 70's and Relayer is my favorite album ever. It reaches heights of musical expression I have never found elsewhere. I get chills

[afrose]

Happy to see Stew Howe and Steve Hackett still touring today and sharing their amazing gifts with younger generations. Keep prog alive!

[Prousto]

Push comes to shove, there’s not a more influential guitarist alive. His contributions both with Yes and solo - covering jazz, classical, hard rock, pop and the avant- garde - are simply astonishing.

[jskypercussion]

Steve Howe is truly the best overall guitarrist

[hamiltonburger]

Wonderful interview!
I really appreciate how the interviewer just let Steve talk and take it down any road he wanted to.

[tonyanderton]

I saw Steve with Yes just a couple of weeks ago on their UK tour. Steve's playing is still as clear, fast, sharp and precise as it was when I last saw him in '75.

[farmgene]

What a true artist. Not only is he a great guitarist, but one gets the feeling that he so single-heartedly loves playing that is governs the art of living for him. Because of that, he has a transcendental quality that transports others.

[thebizlift]

I was lucky to hang with the band YES on their Symphonic Tour in Stockholm and Amsterdam as video producer in November ‘01.
Such a honor to see their brilliance on and off the stage.
Hands down, my favorite gig ever! 😎

[ianhepplewhite]

I saw Steve at the Newcastle City Hall, England, in about 14th February 1971, with Dada bottom of the bill and Iron Butterfly top of the bill. Yes we’re the outstanding best act on the bill; they were performing most, or all, of their ‘Yes Album’, which was released a few weeks later. That was the first time I saw them and was ‘very’ impressed, one of the best acts I ever saw. 👍👏👏👏

[TheCream]

Steve is my all time favorite player, and I've been playing for over 50 years!

[John-rbyv]

Renaissance man on guitar !!
Prolific
Creative
Fun
One of my guitar heroes

[damovanb]

Steve Howe and Bill Bruford made me realize the symbiosis between guitar players and drummers which still exists with my current band and always has through the years. Steve Howe blew my ears wide open when I was an early player. thank you Steve....

[Relayera]

Hey Steve, The way you feel about all these guys you mention, you're like that for me. First time I saw Steve was the Tales tour. I played guitar but was more like Stones, Grand Funk, etc. level. First voicings and pentatonic scales. I was actually more blown away by Wakeman because Steve's stuff was like a foreign language to me. And Rick is so melodic and HUGE, how can you not be impressed. Then I saw them and didn't have a clue about anything I saw Steve do all night. Absolutely convinced I had just seen the singular best guitarist in the world because I had never witnessed guitar playing like that. We're talking 1973, IIRC. Nobody was doing what he was doing. The acoustic, electric, steel, odd meters, inversions all over the neck, country licks, Classical, jazz... I had no clue what I had just heard. But I wanted to know. He opened my teenage eyes to a world of possibilities on the guitar. For me there will never be anyone else like him.

[Jimikamaro]

This man is my Charlie Christian… MOOD FOR A DAY has shaped musical life. 👍👍

[stevesmith]

It's great to see Steve so animated and happy, thanks for the interview.

[SteveWattse]

Steve can talk for England! And what a memory! Love him to bits!

[peterg.bassist]

Fascinating interview--listened to it all. I was a teen in the mid 70s when Steve Howe was voted The Best Guitar Player by Guitar Player magazine several years in a row. I saw YES perform live three times with Steve Howe.

[jamesbond]

I was lucky and got to see Yes twice. Once in the 70's where they played in Buffalo at Rich Stadium with J. Geils, Donovan and Bob Seger during the day. They were awesome. Such great sound and so eclectic. I got to see them in my home town of London Ontario in the 2000's and they were even better!!! The singing and harmonizing blew me away. Also they did an acoustic instrument set with a small set of drums ..mini grand piano at the front of the stage. Very intimate. Was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. The band was so tight and every instrument and voice you could hear absolutely clearly.

[ouncebird]

This is a great interview done by Bob. Ask a couple of questions and then get out of the way while Steve runs with it. Lovely to hear and so wonderful to see Steve's boundless enthusiasm for music, for jazz and for the guitar in all of it's many forms. Very inspiring and informative at the same time. Thanks so much.

[BluesLicks]

Steve's a MAJOR music hero to me.