t's been some years since Jason Becker has been able to play guitar. Becker was a major force in the Eighties shred movement, playing with the likes of David Lee Roth and Marty Friedman, with whom he formed Cacophony. But his guitar career was cut short in 1989 when he was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative neurological condition that saps its victims of most physical movement.
Nevertheless, regard for the once-dexterous shredder remains high, and deservedly so. This is amply demonstrated by two extraordinary new releases. "Warmth In The Wilderness: A Tribute To Jason Becker", a double-disc set from Finland which unites a dizzying host of metal and shred luminaries for the purpose of hailing Becker, and the long-awaited re-release of "Perspective", his magnificent final recorded work.
Featuring a slew of well- and lesser-known shredders, the mostly instrumental album "Warmth In The Wilderness: A Tribute To Jason Becker" is as much a tribute to Becker as it is a celebration of over-the-top metal guitar. It's also a work of pure love and adoration, everyone involved with the project worked for free, and all profits from the record's sales will be donated to Jason and his family.
There are some magnificent interpretations of key Becker works as well as some terrific original Becker-inspired compositions. Topping the list is "Jam For Jason", a fiery behemoth of breakneck guitar which features five shred beasts-Jeff Kollman, Vinnie Moore, Chris Poland, Jeff Watson and Steve Morse-who simply tear it up. Danish guitarist Torben Enevoldsen's interpretation of Becker's epic power ballad "Altitudes", from 1988's "Perpetual Burn", is fierce and faithful, and features lots of stunning solo guitar both brutal and elegant. Project Alacazar (featuring guitarist Chris Steberl) delivers a glorious rendition of Becker's rousing neo-classical opus "Opus Pocus", also from "Perpetual Burn", with Steberl wrenching notes of pure, joyous emotion from his guitar. Other performers include guitarists Marty Friedman, Paul Gilbert and Rob Johnson, among many more. All in all, a very worthy tribute.
t's been some years since Jason Becker has been able to play guitar. Becker was a major force in the Eighties shred movement, playing with the likes of David Lee Roth and Marty Friedman, with whom he formed Cacophony. But his guitar career was cut short in 1989 when he was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative neurological condition that saps its victims of most physical movement. 
