Paul Gilbert will re-release his 1991 album Tribute to Jimi Hendrix album to celebrate its 35th Anniversary on 12 June via Music Theories Recordings, marking the album’s first official digital release.

It’s the album that almost never was, or never should have been. Picture the scene, it's 2 June 1991 and Paul Gilbert was invited to the Frankfurt Jazz Festival in Germany to trade a few solos with Albert Collins, who was headlining the festival.

At the time Gilbert was riding high with Mr Big and Lean Into It had not long been released. “I was already in Europe, finishing up a Mr. Big tour, so the travel would be easy. I said, "Yes!," Gilbert says.

However, shortly after arriving at the venue, Gilbert learned that Collins had suffered a sudden health issue and would be unable to perform.
“The promoter was panicking and asked me to be the headlining act instead,” Gilbert says. “I didn't have a band with me. And I didn't have any solo material prepared.”

The promoter quickly assembled a backing band using the bassist and drummer from Ten Years After, the group led by Alvin Lee, who were also appearing at the festival.

It was only hours before showtime. “The only thing I could think to do was to quickly rehearse some Jimi Hendrix songs, and make the solos long enough to fill up a whole set. I told the promoter, "We only have time to learn 5 songs, so I'm going to have to play REALLY LONG SOLOS." The promoter said, "It's a jazz festival! That will be great!"

So the band and Paul jumped into rehearsal, and a couple hours later, did the show with scorching renditions of ‘Red House.’ ‘Hey Joe,’ ‘Highway Chile,’ ‘Midnight’ and ‘Purple Haze’ - “It turned out great,” he says. “I don't think I've ever played such long solos in my life!”
Despite initially feeling worried that a Tribute To Jimi Hendrix feels like an important mission that should take lots of time to prepare and produce, Gilbert now believes the spontaneity of the performance captured the spirit of Hendrix more authentically.

“In the end, the pressure of pulling everything together quickly in front of an audience—and being worry-free about endless guitar jamming—may actually have brought me closer to Hendrix’s spirit than if I had planned everything while sitting in a chair,” he says.