Fretless guitar pioneer NED EVETT is taking his new album — and his new signature-model Aluminati aluminum-necked fretless guitar — to Europe to rock just about every big city you can name over there in support of JOE SATRIANI and STEVE VAI’s “SatchVai Band: Surfing with the Hydra” continent-spanning tour. And in this interview/jam, Ned shares exactly how he’ll approach his solo sets opening for the two superstar guitar heroes. He also details songs from “Strange Kind of Freedom” (the aforementioned new album) as well as dives into his many influences — from rock to Indian ragas to folk to life-changing tunes by the Who and Robert Johnson — and relives what it was like to have guitar magician ADRIAN BELEW produce one of his albums. This episode is presented by Guitar Player and GuitarPlayer.com, and hosted by JUDE GOLD

186 | Ned Evett Brings His Fretless Magic to the Satch/Vai Tour