Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull [LIVE]

Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 30, 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Benz-Street
• ASIN: B000B5XZTW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210,225 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Eurology

2. Calliandra Shade

3. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day

4. Up The Pool

5. We Five Kings

6. Life Is A long Song

7. In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff

8. Wond'ring Aloud

9. Griminelli's Lament

10. Cheap Day Return

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Pavane

2. Aqualung

3. God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen

4. My God

5. Budapest

6. Locomotive Breath

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jethro Tull Frontman Ian Anderson Approached the Performance of These Tull Classics Not with an Eye to Replicate all the "Rock Group with Orchestra" Discs that Pervaded the Marketplace at the Turn of the Century, but as One Acoustic Musician Playing with a Group of Mostly Other Acoustic Musicians. This was an Exercise of Love to Highlight the Power of Tull Music in a Classical Setting, but in No Way Compromising the Louder Portions of the Compositions. Each Musician was Chosen to Participate Based on their Understanding of the Complex Workings of the Tull Compositions. Thus, These Performances Are Among the Most Heartfelt Ever of the Group's Work. The Classical Musicians Come from the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra, Conducted by John O'hara Along with James Duncan on Drums, David Goodier on Bass and Glockenspiel, O'hara Himself on Keyboards and Accordion and Florian Ophahle on Acoustic and Electric Guitars...and Anderson Himself on Flute and Vocals. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ian with Orchestra: A natural fit, August 31, 2005

By	Stephen M. Frediani "aqualung56" (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull (Audio CD)

This is not a Tull album, so don't expect that. The classical elements have always been present in Ian's music, however, and this album proves to be everything "A Classic Case" (David Palmer with the London Philharmonic and cameo roles from Tull) tried to be. Highlights include the spine-tingling "orhestral Aqualung", My God, Budapest, Pavane, "Life's A Long Song" and "Cheap Day Return / Mother Goose". Ian is obviously in a good mood and having fun with the different musicians.
Recommended.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just When I Thought That I'd Heard It All...., November 10, 2005

By	G-Dexter (Lakewood, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I've got a Jethro Tull problem. I've been an avid Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson fan since 1974 when I got my first record player and promptly went out and bought the "brand new" Warchild Album. Since then I've purchased copies of every single release I could, on both vinyl and later on CD, both authorized and unauthorized (i.e. bootlegs), I've seen the band perform live more than 25 times; I've met the band twice, and I even named my son Ian in tribute to you know who. After more than 30 years of more or less consistent listening, I thought I had just about heard it all - Ian just couldn't surprise me any more.

So, when my copy of IAN ANDERSON PLAYS....arrived from Amazon.com yesterday and I dutifully loaded it in my CD player, expecting another typical concert recording supplemented with some strings - nothing I hadn't heard dozens of times before. For the first few songs it seemed that was exactly what I got. In fact, I could hardly hear the orchestra at all! Mostly, all I could hear guitar, flute and an accordion and I thought "uh-oh!" As the first disc proceeded, the familiar tunes became more lushly orchestrated, though there were few genuinely unique arrangements. So far I gave the release 3-1/2 stars - nice but not quite living up to my expectations.

The second disc started out with PAVANE, a lovely Fauré tune from the CHRISTMAS ALBUM, beautifully performed. Next came the most ubiquitous tune in all of Tulldom: AQUALUNG. I really wasn't expecting anything amazing, but amazing is what I got! At nearly ten and a half minutes, this was a new and completely fresh take on a song that I had long ago written off as a stale - yet obligatory tune for any Tull concert. Starting off with a lovely little oboe and bassoon intro, Ian then comes in on flute with lush strings in an elegiac rendition. Finally the orchestra joins in, along with an amazing guitar solo performed by Florian Opahle, and wonderful drumming by Ian's son James Duncan to make this perhaps the most entertaining and moving version of the song ever performed - no kidding!

Ever the consummate performer and arranger, Ian saved the best bits for last. The final three songs include a stunning version of MY GOD, a fantastic fourteen minute long BUDAPEST and the finale, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH. I can't say enough about how pleased I ended up being with this purchase. Just when I thought I had heard it all, Ian pulled yet another rabbit out of his hat to completely surprise and delight his fans!

Final analysis - five stars plus!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ian Anderson in a classical setting, October 12, 2005

By	Michael Wheeler "Stratocaster" (Las Vegas, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always liked Ian Anderson's acoustic side and classical music. The two together seem like a natural fit.
Ian Anderson has always had a folk guitar style of his own.
Many of my favorite songs are from Aqualung and he plays several of them in this collection.
Martin Barre is missing and his expertise on guitar is missing.One thing of note here is the 19 year old prodigy Florian Ophle. He is not as good as Martin Barre but quite capable.
Ian Anderson is showing a more folk or classical style than he has shown in the past.
The highights include "Up the Pool", "Wondering aloud", Cheap Day Return and Mother Goose.
He also does a song that really catches my attention because he uses another flute player to do the song Griminelli's Lament.
The two flutes playing together in harmony shows Anderson at his very best.
He also does a version of "Bouree" that is much more like the way Bach actually did it.
"Boris Dancing is another highlight on the CD, from his Secret Language of Birds CD.
He plays 3 songs from his Christmas album. We Five Kings, Pavane and God rest ye Merry Gentlemen, are well worth listening to.
"My God" and "Budapest" are also done very well.
This is lighter than what you would hear if Tull was on stage, but Anderson is looking for a more classical setting, and frankly I like it.
If you like Jethro Tull or Ian Anderson you need to get this album.