I had always wanted to see Les Dudek in concert but never had the opportunity during the time he released four of the best solo albums of the late 1970s and early ’80s. Thursday night at The Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, Conn., I got my chance.

Dudek, a somewhat unheralded and almost forgotten guitar master, has played on much more music than many might realize. He recorded those four extraordinary solo albums and was also a member of DFK with keyboardist Mike Finnigan and guitarist Jim Krueger, before virtually disappearing for a big portion of the ’80s. He reappeared with two more solo efforts, the brilliant Deeper Shades Of Blues in 1994 and Freestyle (2002), an assortment of tracks he had never released but that hold together as a cohesive album.

He’s worked with a plethora of other artists as well. Predating his solo career, Dudek played on The Allman Brothers album Brothers & Sisters (1972), on which he provided the emblematic solo of Ramblin’ Man and co-wrote Jessica with Dickey Betts. He worked with Boz Scaggs for six years, including on the top-selling Silk Degrees, then played and toured with Steve Miller, writing What A Sacrifice for Miller’s classic Fly Like An Eagle album. He also worked with Cher in the short-lived rock band Black Rose and toured with and co-wrote tunes with Stevie Nicks in the early ’90s. Add to his resume that he provided some very hot guitar parts to TV themes for Law & Order, Extra, Friends, ESPN and many, many more.

At the Infinity, Dudek played with a trio that included Dan Walters, who provided rock solid and imaginative bass playing and background vocals, and the seemingly tireless and gifted drummer Gary Ferguson. The three ran through many tunes familiar to Dudek’s following from his solo albums as well as songs he’s collaborated on and some new material.

These three put on a a smokin’ show that never let up. Dudek plays a Fender Strat and he easily fills out the sound of the trio. The tone of his guitar sounds like it always has a slight bit of a chorus effect (or perhaps it was just the acoustics of Infinity’s nearly all wood interior), giving it a full, rich sound that almost sounds churchy.

Dudek’s single-string playing is simply jaw-dropping. There is no player in rock that has better chops. He mixes amazing flights of extremely adept and technically difficult runs with sweet, melodic phrasing. Add to this his rhythmic and exacting chord playing, often during and in between his solos, and a voice that is both pleasing and powerful with a wonderful range and Dudek is a tour de force by himself.

With Walters and Ferguson in support the band is electrifying and ferocious at times, as when Walters takes a solo flight that culminates with him expertly keeping up with Dudek on trade-offs, and as Ferguson provides deep grooves that drive the band relentlessly.

Dudek opened with Hot Fun In Dixie Land, from Freestyle. The uptempo tune with a hard Southern rock feel showed off Dudek’s adeptness with a glass bottle slide. It was one of the few tunes on which he used the slide during the show. That was followed by two from Deeper Shades Of Blues, the fierce instrumental Assault And Battery and the album’s exquisite opener Leavin’ My Blues Behind, a shuffle with an intense groove (see second video below).

Assault features Dudek’s fluid style, in which he melds complicated riffs with power chording, often including jazz chords something few hard rock players incorporate, and a single-string assault that never ceases to startle and move the listener. Leavin’ My Blues Behind has a heavy, melodic riff through its chorus, and multiple key changes throughout.

A special request from Ghost Town Parade, Fallin’ Out, was next, four minutes of fury builit on a funky, hard-rocking main riff. After a new song, Take My Money, which he said will be on his next record, Dudek launched into a medley that began with his first FM hit, City Magic, a tune that has a feel reminiscent of the Doobie Brothers but distinctive vocal and lead lines. The medley was completed by two more from Deeper Shades, You Make Me Ill, a medium groove shuffle dripping with a bluesy feel, and Your Love, an uptempo shuffle with a strong vocal chorus hook.

After another new tune, I Told You That, he gave a nod to the Allmans with a beautifully executed take on Ramblin’ Man, and then one to Scaggs, with a fiery version of Lido, which eventually led to Walter’s solo and exchanges with Dudek.

That seemed almost enough, but it was only the end of the first set!

The second set featured another from Deeper Shades, the infectious rocker Molin Rouge, the title track from Gypsy Ride (1981) and the poignant slow blues title track from Deeper Shades, during which Dudek displayed his most lyrical approach during his solos.

A Miller-Scaggs castoff composition, Goin’ To Mexico, brought the tempo back up along with Wild Hearted Weekend, another from Freestyle. He turned to perhaps his best album, Say No More (1977) for the Latin-rhythm, instrumental One To Beam Up, which sounds a lot more like fusion than Southern rock, and perhaps his most recognizable tune, Old Judge Jones (see first video below), another FM hit.

Dudek and crew returned for one encore and what an encore. At first I didn’t recognize the drum beat laid down by Ferguson because it sounded slightly different from the recorded version. Somehow he was encompassing all the trap drums and percussion from that track into one montrous groove. Then it came into focus as the band played the opening chords of Central Park, Ghost Town’s lead track, an amazing yet spare composition that combines strains of jungle music and funk with echoes of Cream vocals (Jack Bruce sang background on the original). What a way to end it. Mind-blowing.

After more than 30 years, I finally got to see one of my favorite guitarist/singer/songwriters and it was the highlight of all the shows I’ve seen this year and certainly a highlight of the many concerts I’ve been to in 45 years. No doubt, Dudek deserves more recognition as one of our guitar greats. He receives my highest admiration. Now it’s time for you to discover him as well if you haven’t.