Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well done, April 24, 1999
Having read the previous reviews I feel as if I'm not referring to the same record. But, as those old Latin guys said, "de gustibus non est disputandum". This 1977 live recording was made in a decade in which Frank Zappa so aptly declared that "Jazz is not dead... it just smells funny". Many jazz and rock credentials were tainted by failed attempts to turn the flirting between jazz and rock into a 'lasting relationship', and a number of records from that era are best left forgotten. This one, however, is not among those. On the contrary, it portrays a successful concert of a cohesive group of impressive musicians providing ample opportunities to hear just why is Jeff Beck indisputably one of the most amazing guitarists in popular music. Charmingly outdated (if only slightly) recording of a very good (sound) quality from the days when synthesizers were still monophonic, this record features inspired and passionate playing of Jeff Beck (g), Jan Hammer (ky, v), Fernando Saunders (b, g, v), Tony Smith (d, v) and Steve Kindler (vn, syn, g). Among rather uneven records of Jeff Beck, this is one of the few that has my undivided attention every time I listen to it. I'd give it solid 4 stars but I'll add one more in an attempt to increase the overall rating - Jeff deserves it.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is what it is, December 10, 2002
Several reviews here seem to be from disgruntled Beck fans who resent the fact that Jan Hammer has horned in on the keyboard. Indeed, this album might as well have been titled The Jan Hammer Group with Jeff Beck, but the point is the same:
This is a top-notch fusion jam, made all the more impressive by the fact that it was recorded live. The smooth tones produced on Beck's studio work may be missing, but are more than made up for by the sheer energy of the ensemble players in this group.
The interplay between Beck and Hammer recalls that of Hammer and the late Tommy Bolin on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album, with Freeway Jam, Darkness/Earth in Search of a Sun, Scatterbrain and Blue Wind producing some of the best solo work. Other than the reggae-tinged version of She's a Woman, most of the tunes are anchored by a solid, funk-laced rhythm that recalls not only the fusion work of Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon, but, on Full Moon Boogie, a nod to Earth Wind & Fire.
I'll concede that the vocals are hideous (and frankly unnecessary in fusion), but fortunately there are few of them.
This is certainly as much Jan Hammer as Jeff Beck, and Beck purists may never aquire a taste for this album. But I'll take it over all of Beck's work, with the possible exception of Blow by Blow, and rate it a must-listen for fans of high-powered, guitar/keyboard fusion riffs.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
IT's Worth the (low) Cost!, March 8, 2001
I admit, I bought this because I love Jeff Beck from the 70's fusion era. Of course i'd heard of Jan Hammer, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra and elsewhere, but i'd not really heard him do much virtuoso stuff except with Beck on "Wired". Here, it's basically the Jan Hammer Group, with Jeff Beck accompanying. None of Beck's band mates from his albums of the period are on this live album, except of course Hammer. Now, let me go through the tracks. "Freeway Jam" is very cool here, it starts out with Beck and Hammer imitating car horns and things like that, and they jam out for a good 6 minutes after that. Beck is the star here of course, he plays some great solos, lots of whammy bar bends and whatnot. Hammer is doing ok too though, I think he's holding back since it's one of Beck's most well-known tracks. "Earth's Our Only Home" is of Hammer's creation, he sings here and plays some wacky synth stuff, a little bit of latin percussion and things like that. It sucks the first couple listens, but it just might grow on you. "She's a Woman" is very cool here in this live version, much more ska-ed out than the studio one, less voice box (which Beck was doing before Peter Frampton, BTW), just enough guitar to satisfy. "Full Moon Boogie" is a kinda southern-esque jam in G, more voice box from Beck, a different, albeit better, vocalist, it's what it says, a boogie. There's plenty of violin here (the disc says Hammer co-wrote with Jerry Goodman, the violinist from Mahavishnu), guitar, synths, all that buisness. "Darkness...." is the first track where Hammer really starts to dominate as soloist. He plays a dark, intense moog solo for the first 2-3 minutes, and it's definetly worth listening to. Beck is not as strong a presence on this track, maybe because Hammer wrote it. Next track is "Scatterbrain"...I loved the album version, it's near-perfect...however, on here, it's not BAD or anything, just not my favorite! Of course, people who like jams will dig this track. There's a lot of guitar playing, synths (Hammer plays a cool slap bass synth), and it definetly rocks. Last is "Blue Wind", from the "Wired" disc. It's probably the one of all that's most similar to it's album version, except Beck REALLY burns here! It is heavy, I really like it! All in all, the CD is worth the measley 10 dollars, you guitar and synth freaks will love it, you Satriani fans might like it except for the singing.....it will appeal to a lot of people, probably more middle-aged than younger though. Go see Jeff Beck live if you get the chance!
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