Virtuoso guitarist Matteo Mancuso sits in his red-and-black gaming chair in his Palermo, Sicily, studio. Just out of his trio’s rehearsal, the 29-year-old musician is looking forward to playing songs from his upcoming album, “Route 96.” 

His tour stops at the Musical Instrument Museum on Sunday, Feb. 1, for two shows.

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Set for an April 24 release, “Route 96” builds on the momentum of his 2023 first album, “The Journey,” which has surpassed 14 million streams. The debut single and the first song he wrote for “Route 96,” “Isla Feliz,” features gypsy jazz guitarist Antoine Boyer. The track is streaming now. 

“Route 96” features Mancuso alongside bassist Riccardo Oliva and drummer Gianluca Pellerito, and was recorded at Fico D’India Studios in Casteldaccia, Italy. The collection was produced by Mancuso and his father, guitarist/producer Vincenzo.

The writing and recording of “Route 96” marked a departure from “The Journey.” He created demos before heading to the studio with his band members, who live in Milan and Sicily. 

“The album features more complex arrangements, including more acoustic guitars and a mix of styles,” Mancuso said. 

“I should say the album has more interesting arrangements than the first album. There are a lot of acoustic guitars, so the album sounds a little fuller, too. It’s not a jazz album. The songs are very different from one another. That’s how I like to work nowadays. The songs are more fun to play. They’re less boring for me compared to just a rock set or just a jazz set. I thought some fresh air was needed.”

Besides Boyer, Steve Vai and Russian keyboardist and producer Valeriy Stepanov added to the sound.

Vai and Stepanov sent their contributions via the cloud. Mancuso said he had to “come up with something very ‘Steve.’” The result, ‘Solar Wind,’ was great. I think Steve had a lot of fun doing this. That’s the most important thing.”

He is correct. Vai said recording for Mancuso was “easy and genuinely enjoyable.”

“He’s remarkably musically mature for his age, and his technique feels less like a collection of chops and more like an evolution and study of guitar technique itself,” Vai added.

“There’s a lot of depth there, but it comes through effortlessly musical. The track he invited me to play on was smooth and melodic, which is a very happy place for me. I slipped right in and felt immediately at home, like the track had already been waiting for me.”

Mancuso said he learned a lot from Vai, such as the legendary guitarist’s mindset, kindness, and professionalism. “Technical, nerdy stuff” was also part of the lessons.

“He recorded multiple takes,” Mancuso said. “I could choose from different solos. He added a lot of material to the song. He didn’t just play a solo, and that’s it. I really admired him putting 100% into it, even though it wasn’t his song.” 

Vai — who comes to the Mesa Amphitheater with Joe Satriani as SatchVai Band on Friday, April 10 — said it was an easy decision to play on Mancuso’s record. 

“I’ve always been a fan of the electric guitar and the players who dedicate themselves to discovering new ways to speak through it,” Vai said.

“Over the years, one of my great joys has been watching new players emerge who are making genuinely expressive technical and melodic discoveries, not just displays of speed or athleticism.

“I’m especially inspired by players who feel like the guitar is a natural extension of themself. When I first heard Matteo play, I lit up immediately. I instinctively sensed that he was a deeply musical person with an exceptional, almost organic connection to the guitar. Frankly, I was pretty blown away.”

At the MIM, Mancuso’s band is expected to play seven of nine songs from “Route 96,” along with previous tracks like “everyone’s favorite” and “Drop D” from “The Journey.” 

Later this year, Mancuso hopes to add another guitarist or a keyboardist to his band. A keyboardist would give the act more freedom, “especially harmonically speaking. Right now, we have some tunes that do not work with a trio. They do not sound as full as the recorded version.

“We are running backing tracks for some of the tunes. I’m not necessarily a big fan of using backing tracks. That’s why I wanted another player, so I can get rid of the click tracks. I think it would be a little bit better for my kind of music.”

The Mancuso patriarch helped mold Matteo into a prodigy. He emerged from the “classical guitar world,” where most performers play alone — just their score and the music. 

“It’s not an orchestral instrument,” Mancuso said. 

“That is why I’ve been more fascinated with the electric guitar. It lets you play with other people. You can play with the drummer and the bass player. That’s what I like the most about music. Jazz music is a really great way to connect with people. It’s one of the most democratic styles of music. Everybody takes a solo. That’s what has fascinated me about music — the interplay between people, and that’s why I like to play live. This keeps me going.”

Information: Matteo Mancuso performs at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix. Tickets start at $38.50. Call 480-478-6000 or visit mim.org