Customer Reviews

Live at the Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975

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

 

 

Perhaps I should qualify the 4 star rating first...

This performance from June of 1975 truly showcases the insane mastery of Jack Bruce and friends (including the fabulous Carla Bley on keys & synth, Bruce Gary on drums). This band was hot - and their seamless performance shines like the best of rock fusion circa this period.

Now, as I found out in the liner notes, these tracks were actually from a rough-mix master made sometime in August of 1975 when the multitrack still existed, indicating that this live performance could have been a release around that time. Unfortunately, that never happened, and this stereo rough mix was the only remaining master.

What does rough mix mean? For starters, no more multitrack, stereo only. Generally when the mix engineer is selectively listening to a performance (live or studio) he/she tends to get a little experimental with instrument balances, play with faders and EQ, and keep the voice very up front and clear. This is indeed the case here. What's missing? Well, Jack's bass is fairly buried on several of the tracks, and Carla is merely heard in the background. This is a shame because both of them (along with Ron Leahy and Mick Taylor) were really playing their hearts out - and unfortunately, some of it gets a little lost.

What *do* you get? Well, for one, Jack's voice never sounded hotter, and the clarity and depth of his vocal in this show will astound you. Though the drums tend to go from slightly buried to 'just right', you never lose the groove, and the pace and precision is incredible. If nothing else, just to have a *complete show* with inter-song banter and announcements makes the price of this disc worth it. I mean, how often today can you actually buy the 'full' concert? Not very...and the rendition of "Sunshine", though slightly lyrically bizarre, is very good and again, a hot take on an old fave.

If you don't have the 'BBC/Old Grey Whistle Test' CD, definitely pick this one up. BBC/OGWT is in Mono, but the mix tends to be a little more balanced (though slightly distorted). Overall, this is a great release and a fantastic aural memory of a musically mesmerizing time.

It's hard to listen to this and believe that the tapes lay in a vault somewhere for 28 years! Some of this sounds like advanced Cream, some of it sounds like King Crimson. All of it stunning. The rough mix and occassional "pops" and "noises" do not detract at all, in my opinion. A better recording would have been great, but I've heard MUCH worse than this. I'm not going to go over each track and review. If you are even reading this then you already must be somewhat of a Jack Bruce fan and if you dont have this already then get it-got it!

Those who expect digitized acoustic perfection are advised to look elsewhere; this is a raw recording of a live show. If you can see beyond that limitation then you have a real treat in store. This concert recording, only recently discovered, is from an exceedingly interesting period in Bruce's career, demonstrating broad ranging interests that spanned jazz, rock, and even classical. (Bruce once noted that one might easily learn music theory simply by studying the baselines of Bach.)

In addition to Bruce, who is spectacular on bass and vocals, it features "dream team" members Carla Bley and Mick Taylor. (Bruce had worked on Bley's astounding "Escalator Over The Hill" some years earlier.) Ronnie Leahy also plays keyboards while Bruce Gary is clearly working up a sweat kicking skins.

As an insufferable musical snob who has performed music I am always drawn to live performances because I believe this is where one separates the Cheese from the Cheese Whiz. Today, almost anybody (no matter how talentless) with time, money, and access to a studio can sound good - examples are so easy to find I don't feel compelled to provide one. But for musicians to set up and play this well live - in Manchester! - that's another story. And to do it with no after-the-fact sweetening, well, now you know you've got genius on your hands.

The program is built around Bruce, his incredibly athletic bass lines and high-octane vocals carry the day. However, the show's only instrumental number, the Tony Williams composition Spirit, is the jewel here. Set smack dab in the show's center, this track takes you down in front of the stage for a visceral sense of what it was like to witness this exceptional performance. Always nice to see a kid from Glasgow do well.

Well, i am re-writting my review of this cd after i gave it a couple more spins. I like Jack Bruce's more experimental work (like what he did with don cherry and carla bley) and some of his duos, and other recent stuff too. So, since this had carla Bley in this particular band, i thought things would go (at least a bit) down that road. But the playing is actually lame in some parts, and others will sound just plain dated. No wonder Carla and Mick Taylor walked out of the band after a few gigs. BUT there are some wonderful parts here too. I have to admit it is an acquired taste ...so give it a couple of chances before sending it to the used cd store.

For those of you reading Craig Fenton's review of this album and wanting to check out Mick Taylor's contributions elsewhere, please note that the Gong album Mick Taylor plays on is 'Expresso II', NOT 'Gazeuse!'. On 'Expresso II' Mick can be heard on the track 'Heavy Tune' alongside Allan Holdsworth. I believe he is also on the Gong album 'Downwind' (but I don't have that so can't verify it) and also played live with them at some time.
Apropos this Jack Bruce album: other reviewers have pretty much covered it. It's a great document of a short-lived line-up but perhaps not the place to start if you are new to the Bruce canon. Begin with the oft-mentioned 'Songs For A Tailor' and 'Harmony Row' or, if you want jazz, 'Things We Like'. For a career overview live, opt for 'Cities Of The Heart'. If you take to those you'll probably find yourself back at this album one day with ready ears.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

June 1, 1975, at the Manchester Free Trade Hall (UK) Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Ronnie Leahy (Drums, credits include Nazareth), Carla Bley (Keyboards, credits include Paul Bley and Michael Mantler), and Bruce Gary (Keyboards, credits include Spirit and the Knack)) took the stage for one of the scheduled shows of a three-month tour.

It took over twenty-five years for a tape of the gig to land in the proper hands. If you are a Mick Taylor and or Jack Bruce collector, the music leans in as much of a jazzy direction as it does the blues. As a matter of fact, the track entitled "Spirit" is a Tony Williams cover.

Jack Bruce's selection of songs are dominated by his solo records. If you can get over the disappointment that Bruce/Taylor will not bring their renditions of traditional blues songs or even the genius of Cream (Excluding a phenomenal "Sunshine Of Your Love" extended for over 12 minutes) to your ears, the music will satisfy your taste buds.

Bruce's voice is in tremendous form. Keep in mind the original source of the recording is not from the digital age. There are passages that don't have the greatest mix of the instruments but Tickets To Waterfalls/Weird Of Hermiston (A song Cream turned down)/Post War total over twenty-five minutes of wizardry from Bruce and Taylor. They repeat the successful recipe for Smiles & Grins from Jack's 71 LP "Harmony Row" as it approached almost equal length.

Bruce is a powerhouse. Calling him a bass-player doesn't do justice to his legacy. He is a bass-guitarist that possesses a set of pipes that makes him one of the strongest vocalists ever.

The finale is perfect. Cream's timeless piece "Sunshine Of Your Love." If Eric couldn't be there to play with Jack, Mick Taylor is fitting to hold the torch. The only sadness comes on the final notes. With a powerful twelve minute version you'll repeat this track a time or two.

The short-lived tour opened an interesting opportunity for Mick Taylor. In 1976 when progressive band Gong decided to enter the jazz-fusion realm with "Gazeause!" they used his services for the studio recording.


Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"