In Brief

* * * Joe Satriani, “Extremist,” Relativity. Arguably the best of current crop of rock guitarists, Satriani offers plenty of soulful, fluid instrumentals that sidestep those fluff-filled passages designed to show off technique. Satriani consistently works his strengths--the ability to succinctly express ideas and a strong feel for dramatic improvisation. He branches out this time, including a bit of hard rock, blues, plaintive ballads, surf tunes, jazz and sweet melodic pop.