Skunk Baxter Speed of Heat 2LP

You've heard his extraordinary and captivating guitar playing thousands of times - on groundbreaking, multi-platinum albums by Steely Dan (a band he cofounded) and the Doobie Brothers (with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and on countless smash hit songs and albums he's participated in as an in-demand, first-call studio musician. But the one place you haven't heard the exceptional and versatile talents of guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - one of the most-recorded guitarists of his generation, whose work has run the gamut from rock to pop to country to R&B and everything in-between - is on an album where he gets the opportunity to focus on the personal... on a record all his own.

That's all changed with the release of Baxter's masterful solo LP, Speed of Heat, on BMG/Renew Records. But first, the inevitable question: What took him so long? He laughs good-naturedly and says, "Well, that is a good question. I don't mean to sound disingenuous, but it seems to me that the moment somebody leaves a successful band, the first thing they do is record a solo album. As for myself, I thought I would consider that down the road, because I hadn't had much time to really think about it, being immersed in so much studio work and record production, so I kept saying, 'I'll do it someday.'" He laughs again, then adds, "OK, so I had a lot of time to think about it."

For music fans of all stripes, and particularly those who have followed Baxter's remarkable career through the years, Speed of Heat will prove well worth the wait. The 12-song album is a riveting and rewarding musical experience that features a host of amazing originals co-written by the guitarist and his keyboardist/producing partner, CJ Vanston, as well as inspired versions of some of the great classics. Along the way, Baxter is joined by special guests such as Michael McDonald, Clint Black, Jonny Lang and Rick Livingstone, each of whom adds their own unique and remarkable musical talents to the project's brilliant sonic mosaic.