The man who’s sold more than 2.5 million albums via concerts, Web sites and a little TV network called HSN has finally landed a major distribution deal, and fans worldwide couldn’t be happier.

Now available in music stores everywhere, Dreambox Records’ Best of Esteban showcases the visionary guitarist at his best, taking 12 audience favorites, songs such as “Fuego Malaguena” and “Runaway,” and reinventing them for audiences to experience like never before. The result is a 12-track ride combining the likes of fiery blues, classic rock, original jazz and stylish flamenco. And while most artists would simply just re-release their original recordings on a best-of CD, as any Esteban fan knows, Esteban isn’t like most artists.

“I really love to take old songs, songs like ‘Runaway’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun,’ and take them to a different place, to another dimension,” the man once known as Stephen Paul replies when asked why he re-recorded some of his most classic tracks. “People eat it up, too—I’ll get standing ovations in the middle of a song sometimes when I improvise in concert. It’s such fun.”

While the CD is called Best of Esteban, the guitarist is quick to point out that it’s not just a collection of previously recorded hits. “It is the best of Esteban in that a lot of things I have done are reflected on the album,” he explains. “But there are a couple of tracks that were never recorded on any of my previous albums—they’re just songs audiences loved when I performed them in concert.”

For those who have seen Esteban perform live, they know there’s no telling what can happen when the Pittsburgh native takes the stage. Even Esteban himself says he doesn’t know what to expect once the curtain comes up because he’s not always in control of the show.

“I always tell my daughter [Teresa, who plays violin] before a show, ‘Let’s not play the concert, let’s let the universe play the concert,’” he says. “We take ourselves, our egos out of it and let the clouds and nature play the show. We get our inspiration from the beauty of the universe, so when we do a track like George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes the Sun’ where I’ll improvise and maybe put some Indian raga in the middle of it, we never know what’s going to come out.”

While that might sound risky to the average musician dependent on sticking to the sheet music, 2.5 million records later, Esteban is clearly on to something. And even though he’s finally made it to the big time by signing with Sony RED, don’t think for a second this guitarist will forget his HSN roots. Esteban recently joined forces with HSN for a benefit concert in New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and will continue to reach out to his loyal viewers throughout the CD’s publicity tour. In fact, not only will Esteban’s music now be more accessible for his fans, but with promotional stops at Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores across the nation, so will their favorite guitarist.

“We’re even going to do concerts at Wal-Mart to help promote the album,” Esteban states. “We’re going to set up a stage…and with 3,000 people in a Wal-Mart at any given time, it’s definitely going to be something to see.”

Best of Esteban is now available in stores everywhere.

E-Mail SoCalMovieEditor@aol.com by Oct. 23 for your chance to win one of three copies of Best of Esteban, plus Esteban's new DVD "Esteban Live at Red Rocks."