|
JEFF
BECK |
|||
Funny,
just this morning I spoke with New York guitar icon Johnny Farina
about his upcoming tour of England later this year. Then, as I sat
down to write the DVD review of Rock n Roll Party
Honoring Les Paul, the 2011 DVD release on Eagle by
Jeff Beck, later the same day, I realized Jeff's DVD also includes
a version of Johnny Farinas classic 1959 smash Sleepwalk,
the world renowned instrumental classic by Santo & Johnny. Wow,
talk about coincidence! Anyway, Les Paul diedthey say
it actually happened on August 13, 2009back in the summer of
09, with Les taking it right till the end of this crazy just
past decade. One month later my mom died2009 was indeed a most
sobering year to end a most sobering decade for sure. Once, among
the several times that I was lucky enough to speak to him, I asked
Les a question about his quest for the perfect note (his own self-proclaimed
Les is more approach) and in return Les said two words
to me: Jeff Beck. That stuck with me for years, but upon
watching Jeffs tribute to Les, it finally dawned on me what
Les was actually talking about. In many ways, Jeff Becks Rock
n Roll Party DVD release on Eaglea truncated
CD version is also available on Atco/Rhinois the quintessential
tribute to the world's greatest guitar master. Les would be (and in
heaven he is actually) awed of the great way Jeff has chosen to honor,
both in song and sound, not only Les, but, in fact the entire era
Les helped create for the next generation lucky enough to be able
to implement the great advances Les created for both the guitar world
and the recording world and the record world. I say this because Les
was not only the greatest electric guitar inventor in history and
a recording technique pioneer but he was also the most brilliant recording
guitarist of the late 40s and early 50s. The ultimate
Les Paul fan, Jeff Beck took his Les tribute live to the Iridiumthe
cramped, midtown Manhattan night spot Les brought his stage show to
every Monday night, from the 90s to when he passed away that
fateful summer of 09. I much preferred seeing Les, when he came
back to the concert stage in the early 80s, at the much more
open Fat Tuesdays down on 14th street, but the Times Square area Iridium,
despite its small ambiance, was the place where Les lived and
breathed and held court so to speak during his last years. For Rock
'n' Roll Party, Jeff Beck brought some great musicians with him
to the stage that night at the Iridium for his tribute to Les, including
singer Imelda May, who amazingly here sounds just like Mary
Ford, the fantastic singer who Les chose to be his partner and wife
during their heyday. Also backing up Jeff at this Les Paul birthday
bash is an amazing horn section, drummer Stephen Rushton, singer/guitarist
Darrel Higham, keyboardist Jason Rebello and more including
a solid guitar spot by Brian Setzer, wild horn man Trombone
Shorty and rock & roll great Gary U.S. Bondswho
brings to life his early 60s classic New Orleans.
Just as amazing as the concertfilmed and recorded on what would
have been Les Pauls 95th birthday, June 9, 2010are the
ample bonus features on this incredible DVD, including 2010 interviews
with Jeff Beck, great b&w and color pics of Jeff and Les in the
must see DVD booklet. But best bonus features here are several vintage
video clips from 1983 featuring Les jamming in concert with Jeff Beck
and Billy Squire. The DVD, coupled with the Atco CD version,
makes a most fantastic tribute to the man who gave everything to Jeff
Beck, and in fact, to just about all of us. The DVD concert tribute
of the year, Rock n Roll Party is a veritable time
capsule of 20th century guitar magic. www.Eagle-Rock.com |
|
|||
|
||||
CD Reviews | Feature | Reviews & Features Archive | Photo Archive | Contact | MWE3 Home |
Email: Info@mwe3.com |
Copyright
© 1999-2011 |