Witch Way

Stu Hamm and Billy Sheehan seemed to get the most magazine coverage for their supreme bass-playing acrobatics during the late '80s, but another gentleman was right up there in the tapping/slapping department of rock bass -- Randy Coven. Like both aforementioned players, Coven was a pal of Steve Vai, and first graced the pages of such publications as Guitar for the Practicing Musician around the same time. While he turned many a head with such releases as Funk Me Tender and Sammy Says Ouch!, little was heard from Coven throughout the '90s. Now, 12 years after his last release comes Coven's third solo effort, 2002's Witch Way. With Coven joined by a pair of renowned rock guitarists -- Mountain's Leslie West and gun-for-hire Al Pitrelli (the latter of whom penned a couple of songs here) -- Witch Way expectedly focuses on the bassist's four-string skills, but turns out to be a musical potpourri. Included is a Spyro Gyra-esque easy listening jazz number, "Island Dream"; a song that sounds straight off of Frank Zappa's early-'80s albums, "Love Kitchen"; as well as a moody instrumental reading of a Doors classic tune, here named "Ryders on the Storm." ~ Greg Prato