Customer Reviews

Live On Breeze Hill

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Live On Breeze Hill" marks for me the continuation of the Band in it's present form. I believed after "The Last Waltz", the Band could never capture their "magic" again. True, many classic artists strive to keep their legacy going, but they never completely continue in the form their foundations made them famous. Rick Danko has kept that magic, however, as much as years have taken their toll, Rick can perform and execute this material like he did 30 years ago. Like fine wine, sometimes it ages beautifully or it sours, yet Danko has mellowed into a fine beverage that should be sipped and enjoyed. The CD "Live On Breeze Hill" is an excellent effort, rumours were abound that it was a "bootleg" tape from a party in Connecticut that turned into a magical document of that day. It is not a bootleg, but a finely crafted and produced effort made possible by Quentin Ryan and Aaron Hurwitz. The versions of "Band" standards are here as well as a recrafted take of "Sip The Wine" from his first solo album in 1977. The Band may truely be one for the ages, and down it's final road. But, Rick Danko keeps that beacon of light that Band fans have followed over the years. The rhythm section and keyboard work is exquisite, thanks to fellow BAND member Garth Hudson, who's work is true genius. Aaron "Louie" Hurwitz is the backbone of this project and he's even featured on the blues standard "Next Time You See Me". This cd also sponsors Greenpeace and Rick has made conscious efforts to uphold it's beliefs. The packaging is "earth friendly" using soy inks and recycled papers. All fans should run and get this cd.

When I heard yesterday that Rick Danko had passed on, this is the CD I played. It's a good mixture of Band and non-Band tracks that truly captures the feeling of Danko live. On Breeze Hill, long after the heyday of The Band, Danko still has the greatest and most unique voice in rock and roll. He will tear your heart out on Sip the Wine and It Makes No Difference, and leave you feeling triumphant on Blaze of Glory and Chest Fever. But the prevailing feeling I get from this CD is that here is a man doing what he loves. A long time ago, Danko sang the words "I'd rather die happy than not die at all." After listening to Live on Breeze Hill, I think you'll agree that that is exactly what he did.

Rick Danko died yesterday, Thursday, December 9, 1999 at at age 56. Live on Breeze Hill is a living testament to this powerful musician and composer. His tortured voice is a divine and profane gift, and his arrangements of songs earlier recorded by The Band are wonderful.

Probably the best live recordings of Ophelia, chest fever, and shape I'm in. Garth is in rare form and the horn section(Tom Malone, Jim Hynes, and Lenny Picket) adds a warmth that cannot be matched.

Having only recently had my own computer,having found this Rick Danko album it has made modern technology truly worthwhile. I was under the misapprehension that I owned everything to date by the Band and all the solo compilations? When I discovered this I was a little dubious, thinking here the go again picking the pennies from another dead mans eyes ? Rick has never let my musical soul down,and even now this live concert (except track 1 studio recording) touches parts of me I cannot explain. The horn section is reminiscent of the Rock of Ages concert and for all followers of THE BAND buy this album you will not be disappointed. I don`t like categorising music, because it can? what ever you call it present barriers and categorisation is for the AD men. If you love it call what you like.
Most of the old standards are here,delivered as if THE BAND are here in my house. A unique gift of these master musicians.
It would have served Robbie well to have remembered this in his solo productions?

I've found that a lot of Rick Danko/The Band fans are not aware of this album's existence. It's a damn shame, because this is some great music. Danko was not in perfect form, but who is at 56 years old? But don't worry: that lilting, staccato voice is there in spades. His re-working of "Sip the Wine" is really the most beautiful track on the album. "Crazy Mama," a track he and Richard Manuel often played during their mid-80s tours, is back with some great hornwork and crunching guitar.

The rest of the tracks are absolutely worth listening to. Rick sounds so happy to be playing his music...I like to think that he died happy, knowing that people still appreciated his output. RIP.

Rick was a great talent - his importance to the success of The Band and their place in history was clearly understated/unrecognized during their salad days and beyond. Unfortunately, neither that nor his passing make this CD any better. Not the legacy he would have liked, methinks.