Customer Reviews

Acoustic Trio in Berlin

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Willy shows us a different side on this 2-CD collection of live material recorded in Europe. Most of the material (about 1 1/2 CDs) features Willy accompanied by piano and bass. Willy covers a bunch of classic r&b tunes -- and covers them well. Whether he's taking on ballads such as "It's Too Late She's Gone" or "Since I Met You", he's in great form. When it comes to tackling rocking gems such as "Hound Dog" or "Keep a Knockin'", Willy doesn't disappoint. His rich, emotive vocals jump to the front, leading the terrific piano/bass accompaniment in these fresh new takes on rock and roll classics. The rolling bass lines of Seth Farber's piano on a few New Orleans-type interpretations make you feel like you're down on Bourbon Street on a Friday night. The trio also handles a few classic DeVille cuts such as "You Better Move On" and a killer version of the cabaret-type tear jerker "Heaven Stood Still." These are all great performances. The several cuts recorded in Stockholm with a near-full band (percussion, but no drummer) aren't up to the level of DeVille's "Live" album, but they aren't bad. As bonus tracks, they're nice additions to the trio performances, but not great. All in all, however, an outstanding album by an artist who seems to be far more appreciated overseas than he is here in the States. What a shame--Willy's been making fabulous music for over a quarter of a century without lots of acclaim here at home. The lucky ones are those of us who've followed him all these years. Check this out and you'll see what I mean.

This is a very good live disc--proving once again what a dynamic performer Willy Deville is.