Rick Vito – Slidemaster
The Instrumental Slide Guitar Collection
Rick Vito – Slidemaster
Format: CD – Digital
Label: MoMojo Records
Release: 2026
Release date: April 3, 2026
This unique recording is a compilation of Rick’s all-instrumental cuts played exclusively on slide guitar, in the style of which he is universally renowned
It features both new material plus some of his best former releases which were remixed and mastered specifically for the album. Rick’s takes on Peter Green’s “Albatross,” and “The Supernatural,” Sam Cooke’s, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and the originals, “Vegas Jump,” and “Soul Shadows,” are not to be missed!
“For many years now, friends have asked, ‘when will you release an instrumental album?’ Having recorded even more instrumental tracks this past year, I finally decided to do just that,” says Vito. “To my knowledge there have not been many slide guitar instrumental albums, and out of this came the idea for my new release, Slidemaster. These new works are paired with some of my very favorite cuts from previous albums resulting in a soulful collection of all-instrumental slide guitar tracks. This album comes from years of recording in a style that I hope you will love as much as I do.”
Rick’s last album, the highly acclaimed ‘Cadillac Man’ in 2024, generated universal rave reviews and extensive radio airplay, reaching the number one slot on the Roots Radio Report. “Vito transports listeners with his wraithlike style. He never wastes a note in his expressive playing and always finds just the right phrase to fit the song he’s serving on his album,” said Henry Carrigan in Living Blues. In Rock and Blues Muse, Jim Hynes opined: “Vito’s playing is clean, tasty, and impactful… one of the best guitarists in the genre, and a premiere slide guitarist with few peers.” And Marco Piazzalongo, writing in Jazz N More summed up by stating: “Vito’s licks and solos go down like a tasty cocktail mixed by one of the greats in the field. They exude atmosphere, warmth, deep musicality and do not require any gimmicks. But it’s not just his amazing skills on the six strings, be it without or (especially!) with a bottleneck, that Vito brings to life with grandeur on Cadillac Man. His songwriting also has style and class throughout, is based on inspiration from across blues’n’roots history, and is cleverly composed.”
Guitarist, singer and producer Rick Vito is perhaps best known as a member of the legendary supergroup Fleetwood Mac (1987-1991). His guitar work and songs are featured on their albums, Greatest Hits, Behind The Mask, The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac, The Chain, and the live concert DVD, Tango In The Night.
He later partnered with Mick Fleetwood to form the “Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito.” Shortly after the release of their CD, Blue Again, Rick was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues category as both artist and producer.
Of particular note, Rick’s now iconic slide guitar solos on Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock,” have been heard and heralded by untold millions, both on Seger’s hit albums and as the guitar voice on the Chevy truck TV commercial ads which ran over ten years.
Rick’s solo albums began with Atlantic Records in 1992 with his debut album, King of Hearts, after which he began performing worldwide with his own band. His unique guitar work has also appeared on hundreds of recordings by such legendary Rock & Roll and Blues Hall of Fame artists as Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, John Fogerty, Christine McVie, Little Richard, Leon Russell, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, John Prine, Delbert McClinton, Rita Coolidge, Roy Orbison, Jackson Browne, Roger McGuinn, Todd Rundgren, Bob Seger, and scores of others.
Rick Vito is also the recipient of the Blues Music Award for the song of the year, “It’s Two A.M.” by Shemekia Copeland, and his compositions have appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including multiple episodes of the highly acclaimed TV series, “Blue Bloods.”
Website: https://www.rickvito.com/
Tracks:
01. Vegas Jump
02. Steel Away
03. The Big Beat
04. The Danger Zone
05. Ted Hot Baby
06. Albatross
07. Soul Shadows
08. Slide The Blues
09. A change Is Gonna Come
10. River of Blues
11. The Supernatural
12. Th Lord’s Prayer
Musicians:
Guitars, Acoustic & Electric Bass, Keys, Percussion: Rick Vito
Drums: Rick Reed (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9), Lynn Williams (track 11), Charles Johnson (tracks 2, 3, 4, 7)
Electric Bass: Charlie Harrison (tracks 1, 6, 8, 9)
Organ: Mark Horwitz (track 9), Kevin McKendree (track 12)