To call Yngwie Malmsteen a ‘maestro’ or ‘virtuoso’ is to state the obvious. However, such terms don’t sufficiently explain his talent or impact. There are innumerable guitarists who have copied a small part of the vast musical spectrum that defines him, but nobody comes close to achieving what he has over his nearly four decade career. As a pioneer in the guitar realm, his style, creativity, and dynamic range solidifies him as one of the elite guitarists on the planet. Returning with his new album, ‘Blue Lightning’, Malmsteen highlights his enduring dexterity and diversity while paying homage to his inspirations from the blues world. Featuring covers of classics such as ‘Purple Haze’ (Jimi Hendrix), ‘Paint It Black’ (Rolling Stones), ‘Forever Man’ (Eric Clapton), and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ (The Beatles), Malmsteen also includes four original tracks that clearly bring his love of blues to the forefront. “I grew up in a classically trained family, and people know me for playing a neo-classical style,” says Malmsteen. “Once I got a guitar for my fifth birthday I tried emulating John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. I’ve always had a strong interest in the blues, so creating an album in this style seemed so natural to me.” Anyone who is expecting this record to be an exact copy of the original material is in for a surprise, as Malmsteen challenged himself to add his own flare to the tracks. “I have never been someone who wants to sit down and mimic the way a song sounds on record,” explains Malmsteen. “What I have done is added in my own vibe and personality to the songs I love. That way I feel I am being myself, yet also paying respect to my inspirations.”