The Jimi Project

Along with the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix is widely considered -- and with good reason -- to be one of the most sacred artists of rock history. And as a result, it's pretty darn hard to cover Hendrix, since the original renditions of his songs are widely agreed to be definitive, and extremely well-known and instantly recognizable. But that's not to say that admirers haven't taken a crack at Hendrix's catalog, and in 2006, it was Phil Brown's turn, with the appropriately titled The Jimi Project. For those who may not be familiar with his work, Brown is primarily a session guitarist who has played with a multitude of artists, in addition to replacing the late, great Lowell George in Little Feat. Joining Brown for his Hendrix tribute are two players with heavy jazz chops -- bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak. And the results are what you'd expect -- expertly played renditions, loaded with tasty guitar work courtesy of Brown. For the most part, the trio uses Hendrix's renditions as a starting point, before adding their own personal laid-back stamp (and never straying too far from the originals), especially on such tracks as "Purple Haze" and "Fire." Additionally, Brown and company don't just stick to Hendrix's best-known tracks, as such oft overlooked Axis: Bold as Love gems as "One Rainy Wish," "You've Got Me Floating," and "Ain't No Telling" share the spotlight.