Joe Satriani recently shared how his involvement in the G3 project has played a significant role in “elevating” his musical skills over time. He emphasized his ongoing pursuit to collaborate with remarkable guitarists, always seeking opportunities to improve his craft.
The G3 project, which has become a long-running celebration of electric guitar, has seen numerous legendary guitarists join its ranks. From the original lineup of Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson, to other guitar greats like Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp, Paul Gilbert, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, and others, the collaboration has included some of the most talented musicians in the world.
In a recent interview with WDHAFM’s Terrie Carr, Satriani explained that the drive to collaborate with top-tier musicians has been a constant for him since the early stages of his career. He mentioned that this desire was one of the key reasons he created the G3 tour. He shared his philosophy on working with extraordinary guitarists, noting, “What I noticed early on in my career is that you have to invite talent, really superior talent, into your projects if you want to elevate your own art. And that was part of the reason why I started G3. Everyone says, ‘Don’t stand next to that guy. He might play better than you.’ And I thought, ‘No, I want to stand next to that guy; he might make me play better.’ That was the way I looked at it.”
Satriani also discussed the effort behind organizing a project like G3, recognizing the important contributions of people like Mike Fraser, Todd Gallopo, and Jen Rosenstein, who have helped make the project a success. He highlighted the role of talented individuals behind the scenes, saying, “When we go to do a project like this, you call the great Mike Fraser, you call Todd Gallopo, and you say, ‘Can you do it?’ And then book Jen Rosenstein; her talents with the camera, they’re unmatched. It’s an art form in itself, to be able to hang with us, to be the fly on the wall, and to capture the right moments, the emotional moments, the technical moments, and to give the fans the feel of what really happened at that show; the culmination of the G3 reunion. And then, of course, earMusic, you know, they bankroll the whole thing.”
Reflecting on his collaborations with legendary guitarists, Satriani noted how these experiences have shaped his musical journey. He commented, “If I’m just thinking selfishly about it, I’ve been able to stand next to those players, like Robert Fripp and John Petrucci, and you learn so much about music, about yourself, and about guitar playing, by taking the challenge [of], ‘Yeah, I’m going to stand next to this person, and I hope it goes well.'”
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