It’s hard to imagine, from today’s vantage point, what popular music might sound like had there never been a Jimi Hendrix. The entire paradigm of blues-based rock soloing as we now understand it would not exist. Hendrix was not some mere blues-rock fusion artist hell-bent on showing off his chops, of course.

One by one some of rock’s best known guitarists dazzled Thursday evening at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts as part of a tribute concert to the iconic Jimi Hendrix.

But despite all their mastery for over 150 minutes, the most startling aspect during Experience Hendrix was realizing just how damn easy and effortless the man being honored made such intricate, jaw-dropping solos look.

Have you ever been re-experienced? The original bands are no longer going concerns, but the music of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and other classic-rock heroes is evergreen, with younger generations discovering music known well by parents and grandparents. And so, serving nostalgia and new crowds alike, touring road shows Experience Hendrix, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience and Classic Albums Live do big business.

Experience Hendrix members, including Ernie Isley, Chris Layton, Johnny Lang, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson and John McDermott, will be the featured guests on the nationally syndicated radio show Rockline with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday October 27, 2010 at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET.

In a feature article, CNN spoke with Janie Hendrix and others about Jimi Hendrix’s impact on music, and discussed how some of the recordings on “West Coast Seattle Boy” may give listeners more insight into how Jimi was evolving as an artist.

Jimi Hendrix’s new single, an alternate version of “Love Or Confusion,” has jumped up Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales Chart to No. 4 from No. 25 in the magazine’s October 16th issue. The track also will be included in the upcoming release of “West Coast Seattle Boy – The Jimi Hendrix Anthology” 5-disc boxed set, which hits stores on November 16th.

Janie and Jimi Hendrix in Seattle, 12 February 1968. © ULVIS ALBERTS

“Jimi was an icon, of course, but to me he was always just Jimi, my older brother. He was a special kind of brother, though. Even before I realized how incredibly talented he was and that he had become a star, I knew there was always something a little magical about him.

“JIMI HENDRIX VOODOO CHILD”

TWO HOUR DOCUMENTARY FEATURING THE LEGENDARY GUITARIST’S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS WITH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS AND RECORDINGS FROM HENDRIX PRIVATE ARCHIVE

PREMIERES Saturday September 18, 2010 11:00am-1:00pm

Seattle, WA EMP brings viewers inside the ground-breaking story of one man, his music and the world that embraced him with the two-hour documentary special “Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child,” premiering Saturday, September 18, 2010 11:00am- 2:00pm

Over the course of just four extraordinary years, Jimi Hendrix left an indelible stamp on the world, shaping not only popular music but popular culture as well.

Definitive Career-Spanning Collection Traces
Jimi Hendrix’s Transformation
From R&B Sideman To World’s Most Electrifying Guitarist
Across 4 Hours of Rare & Unreleased Tracks On 5 Disc (4 CD/1 DVD) Boxed Set

Legacy Recordings and Experience Hendrix LLC are proud to announce the highly-anticipated release of West Coast Seattle Boy – The Jimi Hendrix Anthology, featuring more than four hours of rare and previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix music on a 5 Disc (4 CD/1 DVD) deluxe box set, available Tuesday, November 16.