Record Reviews
12 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | BAD COMPANY ~ IN CONCERT: MERCHANTS OF COOL (DVD)
SANCTUARY 3003 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Bad Company were formed by Paul Rodgers after Free disbanded. The group was less blues influenced then Free, but the voice of Rodgers, who is probably the best white blues singer, still dominated the sound. This DVD filmed in 2002 marks a remarkable reunion concert of the band with Rodgers in the lead and the original members, including Simon Kirke (from Free as well) on drums. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 93 minutes.
| | | DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | BILL BRUFORD / MICHIEL BORSTLAP ~ IN CONCERT IN HOLLAND
SUMMERFOLD 007 (Barcode: 604388647927) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2002
Fillmed in two locations in Holland during a concert tour in 2002 this DVD brings together two of the leading lights in modern improvised music, the virtuoso Dutch pianist Michiel BosrtlapFind albums by this artist and British drums giant Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist. The music is breathtaking, neither quite pure jazz nor quite pure rock, an amalgam of influences and talets that really works. This is absolutely fascinating to see those two geniuses create! The material included here is completely different than the material on the CD released by this duo. Dolby Digital Stereo Sound, 90 minutes.
Individually numbered Limited Edition includes CD of the same material
| | | DVD+CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS ~ IN CONCERT: A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY
JUSTIN TIME 219 (Barcode: 068944021925) ~ CANADA ~ Brass Rock
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006
This is a live recording by Canadian vocalist / songwriter David Clayton-ThomasFind albums by this artist, primarily known as the frontman of the legendary Brass Rock ensemble Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist. Recorded at the Toronto´s Opera House and supported by a superb eleven-piece band the sound and ambience recreates the heydays of his work with BS&T. The album presents twelve songs, some going many years back and other newer, most written by him, spanning his entire incredible career as performer and songwriter.
The solo recording career of Clayton-Thomas was revitalized near the turn of the Millennium, when he was nearing the age of sixty, which is quite remarkable and unparalleled. He recorded (so far) thirteen albums since 1996, this being the fifth of them, more than twice the number of albums he recorded beforehand since the start of his career.
Born in 1941, Clayton-Thomas was sixty-four years old when this concert was recorded, but he sounds every bit as vibrant, powerful and energetic as I remember him from decades earlier, and his husky voice was every bit as enchanting as ever. The carefully selected material presents him as a diverse vocalist able to handle Blues, Rock and Jazzy vocalese with the same ease and elegance.
The instrumental arrangements are truly refined and the band supports the vocals beautifully, creating a superb musical experience for the listener. Keyboardist Doug RileyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Bernie LaBargeFind albums by this artist, bassist George KollerFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul DeLongFind albums by this artist and percussionist Waleed AbdulhamidFind albums by this artist and the six-piece brass section work splendidly together and offer thrilling soli on the way.
Overall this is one ass-kicking piece of first rate performance, which only a very few artists are capable of delivering, and one of the strongest live albums I have heard in years. I can´t imagine any Brass Rock, BS&T and David Clayton-Thomas fan not having this album in their collection, but no less importantly younger listeners should listen to this in order to understand what music is all about.
Thank you David for this unadulterated piece of fun. God bless and remember that age is just a state of mind!
| | Updated: 12/08/2020Posted: 27/06/2020 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | DEEP PURPLE ~ IN CONCERT
PARLOPHONE 077779818129 (Barcode: 077779818129) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 1992
This is a 2CD live album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. Released originally in 1980, the CD edition was expanded with two tracks. It presents two concerts by the first incarnation of the Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist: CD1 was recorded in 1970 and includes four tracks and CD2 was recorded in 1972 and includes eight tracks, both recorded by the BBC for their “in Concert” live broadcasts.
The 1970 concert features a couple of songs from the “In RockFind albums with this title” album and two songs from the albums recorded by the Mk I lineup. The 1972 concert was taped just a week before the release of the “Machine HeadFind albums with this title” album and features live versions of six of the seven songs on that album.
The group is in top form on both these recordings, as expected. The 1970 concert is characterized by expanded Rock improvisations lasting for almost twenty minutes on two of the songs and the other two being only somewhat shorter. It is a perfect summary of the Prog period of Deep Purple. The 1972 concert finds the group in their second phase, closer to Hard Rock, but one of the tracks also lasts about twenty minutes and features long instrumental improvisations.
Overall, this is a brilliant document of the early period of one of the greatest Classic Rock groups of all time, as well as a hyper-productive period in British Rock. Although Deep Purple released a plethora of live albums, they are one of the very few acts, which produced such variety and diversity in their performances, that each and every one of their live albums is completely unique and worth listening to. As such this is another classic!
| | Updated: 18/08/2022Posted: 18/08/2022 | CD 2 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | DONOVAN ~ IN CONCERT
BGO 0090 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Live album from 1968 presents DonovanFind albums by this artist - the Prince of British Psychedelia - in an unusual setting singing his favorite songs and accompanied by an acoustic ensemble with a strong jazzy flavor, made unique by the presence of the outstanding flute player Harold McNairFind albums by this artist, who unfortunately died soon after this recording was made.
| | Updated: 28/07/2023Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | HERBIE HANCOCK ~ IN CONCERT
IMAGE 89410 (Barcode: 743218941092) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001
Master pianist / composer Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist needs no introduction to any Jazz fan and his 5th decade of continuously splendid musical creation continues (thank God) uninterrupted to this very day. Although Hancock´s recorded output is enormous, finding his work on film / DVD is another matter, therefore this excellently filmed / recorded concert is quite a find. Produced by the BET on Jazz (and released in the US as "The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock"), the concert captures Hancock playing acoustic piano with a sextet, which includes Eli DegibriFind albums by this artist on sax (great young Israeli player), Eddie HendersonFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Ira ColemanFind albums by this artist on bass, Terri Lynne CarringtonFind albums by this artist on drums and Cyro BaptistaFind albums by this artist on percussion. The music includes a nice mixture of standards and Hancock´s own excellent compositions, which by now are also recognized as standards, all played with the usual (or rather unusual) brilliant and highly sensitive touch, which is so rare and precious. All the musicians are first class players (Carrington´s drumming is a true marvel) and they get plenty of opportunity to solo, which is always welcome. Overall this is a great opportunity to watch (and hear) the great master at work, captured here for posterity. The DVD also includes an interview with Hancock, which is always a welcome addition. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS, 105 minutes.
| | | DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICHAL URBANIAK / CONSTELLATION ~ IN CONCERT (POLISH JAZZ VOL.36)
MUZA 1036 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2005
This is a reissue of the second album on the legendary "Polish Jazz" series by the Polish saxophonist / violinist / composer / bandleader Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist. A veteran Polish Jazz musician, Urbaniak was a member of the legendary ensembles led by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, where he played the saxophone, but by the early 1970 he switched to the violin and plunged into Jazz-Rock Fusion, rapidly becoming one of the most inventive and creative pioneers of the genre.
This album and the albums recorded in Germany and later in the USA are absolute Fusion milestones, but also stand out as completely unique in their approach to the genre. Urbaniak combined the marvelous abilities of his wife Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and her extraordinary and experimental vocalese technique with his common usage of Polish Folklore motifs, creating a superb and completely unparalleled Fusion music.
This live recording captures his baseless / double keyboard ensemble, which also includes organist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, pianist Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Urbaniak, is simply out of this world, brilliant and fresh, absolutely resistant to the tides of time and fashion. In retrospect one can only regret that Fusion followed mostly the direction of flashy virtuosic display of neck-breaking guitar races rather than the direction proposed by Urbaniak´s Fusion, but it´s unfortunately too late now. At least we can savor this music, 40 years after it was recorded, well aged and beautifully eternal. A must!
| | Updated: 08/09/2019Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICHAL URBANIAK / CONSTELLATION ~ IN CONCERT (POLISH JAZZ VOL.36)
POWER BROS 00119 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 1993
This is a reissue of the second album on the legendary "Polish Jazz" series by the Polish saxophonist / violinist / composer / bandleader Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist. A veteran Polish Jazz musician, Urbaniak was a member of the legendary ensembles led by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, where he played the saxophone, but by the early 1970 he switched to the violin and plunged into Jazz-Rock Fusion, rapidly becoming one of the most inventive and creative pioneers of the genre.
This album and the albums recorded in Germany and later in the USA are absolute Fusion milestones, but also stand out as completely unique in their approach to the genre. Urbaniak combined the marvelous abilities of his wife Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and her extraordinary and experimental vocalese technique with his common usage of Polish Folklore motifs, creating a superb and completely unparalleled Fusion music.
This live recording captures his baseless / double keyboard ensemble, which also includes organist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, pianist Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Urbaniak, is simply out of this world, brilliant and fresh, absolutely resistant to the tides of time and fashion. In retrospect one can only regret that Fusion followed mostly the direction of flashy virtuosic display of neck-breaking guitar races rather than the direction proposed by Urbaniak´s Fusion, but it´s unfortunately too late now. At least we can savor this music, 40 years after it was recorded, well aged and beautifully eternal. A must!
| | Updated: 08/09/2019Posted: | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | NORMA WINSTONE & JOHN TAYLOR ~ IN CONCERT
ENODOC 005 (Barcode: 5036614000049) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1988 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of an album by the British Jazz "royal couple" vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, released originally only on cassette. The album was recorded live at the Guildhall School of Music in London and presents eight tracks, three of which are standards (one is a medley of two songs), four are compositions by Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist, Egberto GismontiFind albums by this artist and Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist (two) to which Winstone wrote words or vocal parts, and one is a composition by Taylor featuring Winstone´s breathtaking vocalese extravaganza. The album offers a wonderfully natural sound quality.
This intimate duo setting is perhaps the best "real time" document of the decades-long musical cooperation of the couple and an archetypical example of the vocals / piano "Art of the Duo" idiom, as well as an embodiment of the British Jazz spirit, which these two marvelous musicians have always personified.
The individual performances by Winstone and Taylor are of course stellar, as expected. She is perfect both as a singer of lyrics and improviser using vocalese, and her divine sense of melody and rhythm are a class of its own. He touches the keyboards with precision and wonderful dynamics, and above all with incomparable elegance and fluidity.
But it is the amalgam of the creative flow created by these two personas which is simply unstoppable, resulting in an effect way beyond the sum of the individual contributions. The telepathic communication and emotional unity of the couple is absolutely astounding, serving as a timeless example of the effectiveness of the "less is more" principle.
I can hardly think of an album that deserves the "classic" status more than this one. A hidden gem that listeners had to wait for thirty years to be able to enjoy, is finally here and offers sixty minutes of pure musical delight and an essential piece of British Jazz legacy.
British Jazz fans and all true music lovers around the globe should find this irresistible and one can hope this music will reach a much wider audience than at the time of its original release. Beyond essential!
| | Updated: 09/04/2020Posted: 09/04/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Essential Recommend To A Friend |
|
