In a career spanning three decades, Steve Morse has earned a reputation as a meticulous craftsman, unerring perfectionist in the studio and chopmeister of the highest order. And while he has been thrust into the popular spotlight on occasion, first with Kansas and now with Deep Purple, he is first and foremost regarded in industry circles as a musician's musicians; the premier player of instrumental rock after Jeff Beck.

Morse is careful to temper his grungier moments of bombast with the kind of intelligence, taste and finesse that have been his trademark from the beginning of his celebrated career. His sublime acoustic work on "Delicate Balance", an affecting duet with bassist Dave LaRue, reflects an ongoing love of classical music,specifically the logical, moving harmonies and brilliant contrapunctual lines heard in Bach and Handel. The other side of the musical coin to this more initimate, serene offering is "live To Ride", an all out rock n' boogie romp that rivals ZZ Top for sheer raunchy abandon. --adapted from liner notes by Bill Milkowski