Taken By An Angel - A tribute to Janine Morse, featuring Kevin Morse

“After losing my wife and Kevin losing his stepmother, this is the piece we put together as a tribute.

The part at the end was actually something I had written as a chapter two for “Contact Lost,” and had even tried out with Deep Purple. I knew it was something I’d want to use in the future.

The sad and lonely part at the very beginning was written the night she died, after going home. But I did not include that when we played at her funeral.

The second section – where Kevin comes in with the chords – is what we started the memorial service piece with. After hearing Kevin’s beautiful voicings, I just played a simple melody straight from the heart.

The next section picks up energy with Kevin’s rhythm, as it represents the beginning of hope and faith for a better place that our loved ones will rest in.

At the end of the first time through, Kevin’s rhythmic suspended chord drives us into a new key, and Van supplied some tubular bell sounds that give it that heavenly but triumphant feeling that closes on a major chord.

It’s a very personal piece for me, but I think it applies to all of us going through the stages of grief: the sadness, the introspection, the prayers, and the hope and belief of a better place.” – Steve