Reviews
Recommended music DVDs:
BRETT GARSED: ROCK GUITAR IMPROVISATION
Aussie legato player Brett Garsed reminds me of the good old days when Holdsworth wasn't beyond the planet Pluto. There's a lot of musical depth and emotion in Brett's soling, brought on by his 'hybrid picking' technique and non-perpendicular use of a bottleneck slide. The Australian band performs original compositions in the studio, and they're great pieces. Includes a great bonus clip of the two-handed tapping technique of T.J. Helmerich (Brett's guitar buddy on the 'Uncle Moe's Space Ranch' CD below).
CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND: LIVE AT MONTREUX 2004
Saw this tour in D.C.. Chick Corea, Frank Gambale, John Pattitucci, Dave Weckel and Eric Marienthal reunite after a 10 year hiatus. The band performs all of "To the Stars", the CD written around L. Ron Hubbard's novel, and then comes back to burn on jazz standards. This band has incredible synergy - the flawless execution of precisely written fusion material.
ERIC JOHNSON: LIVE AT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
Eric in 1988, prior to the release of 'Ah Via Musicom'. Eric is on top in this performance, and you get good looks at all that vintage equipment that creates the tone. The real treat is the last song, Hendrix's 'Are You Experienced'. Eric just nails the song's classic 'backwards' solo, through the use of roll on volume swells, harmonics and precise positioning of the guitar for feedback.
STEVE LUKATHER AND LOS LOBOTOMYS: IN CONCERT
A great recording from a German concert series. Steve's guitar rig is legendary and that killer tone is very apparent on this DVD. Great covers of Hendrix's 'Freedom' and James Gang's 'The Bomber', with the extended jam track 'Dismemberment' letting everyone stretch. What makes this DVD is Simon Phillips, one of the cleanest and most accurate drummers around.
JOHN WETTON: LIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD
This DVD is worth the price just to have a video version of King Crimson's 'Starless'. Wetton has assembled a great band of guys that aren't well known, and they completely understand the cadence and nuance of the song, as well as UK's 'In the Dead of Night' and Crimson's 'Red'. All performed before a small pub audience, prior to taking the tour on the road.
ROGER WATERS: IN THE FLESH - LIVE
Roger Waters puts together an excellent 10 member band that does a fantastic job with Pink Floyd's classic material. The hired gun in the Gilmour spot is Doyle Bramhall II, who plays left handed without re-stringing the instrument. This makes for some great 'mirror image' guitar visuals when two guitarists play harmonies on 'Dogs' and trade solos on 'Comfortably Numb'. One doesn't miss the other three quarters of Pink Floyd on this one.
JONI MITCHELL: SHADOWS AND LIGHT
This 1979 concert was the 'golden' lineup for Joni - Jaco Pastorious on bass, Pat Metheny on guitar, Lyle Mays on keyboards and Michael Brecker on sax. And of course Joni singing like an angel. Video footage of Jaco is special, not just for his solo spot, but for the genius of the bass lines throughout all the songs. Plus it's fun to see Metheny as a 19 year old wide eyed kid.
BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES: LIVE AT THE QUICK
Virtuoso jazz banjo player Bela Fleck, along with possibly the best bass player currently working, Victor Wooten. Throw in Victor's brother 'Futureman' on the electronic drumitar, a few horns and oboe, a tabla player and a Himalayan mountain crier, and you have a brilliant eclectic mix of music. All in front of an enthusiastic college audience. The gem is Victor's interpretation of 'Amazing Grace'. The audience is so transfixed you could hear a pin drop during the bass harmonics.
AL DIMEOLA, STANLEY CLARK & JEAN LUC PONTY: LIVE AT MONTREUX 1994
Three titans of electric fusion from the 70's and 80's, together in a unique format: acoustic. A really crisp DVD production with plenty of chops, with each member taking the solo spotlight. DiMeola's Ovation guitar has gorgeous tone, and the camerawork during Stanley's solo is as if it's mounted on the bridge of the upright bass. The feel of a classical recital - very elegant.
KING CRIMSON: EYES WIDE OPEN
King Crimson is not for everybody. Their music runs the gamut from the sublime to the savagely atonal, but it's always intelligent. Disc 1's 2003 Tokyo concert is an excellent production, as the Japanese typically do for western artists. Fripp opens the show beautifully with layered guitar soundscapes, and the tune before the encore, 'The Deception of the Thrush', is an amazing piece of music. Disc 2 contains a real treat for die-hard fans, clips of the improvising portions of multiple concerts during a European tour.
DAVID BOWIE: A REALITY TOUR
A 2004 concert that continues Bowie's relentless creativity. Great old songs we all know, done in a modern format. Excellent cinematic effects and visual editing. The highlight of this DVD is the song 'Under Pressure', with Bowie's bassist, Gail Ann Dorsey, absolutely nailing the vocals.
FRANK GAMBALE: CONCERT WITH CLASS
Frank Gambale (guitar), Ric Fierabracci (bass) and Steve Smith (drums)
Frank is The Man, what else can we say. He has developed his sweep picking technique to such a level of clarity and accuracy it's scary. This is a great guitar DVD - no production frills, just great performances. Drummer Steve Smith (ex-Journey member) is a machine, and must be the hardest working drummer in fusion (Vital Information, Vital Tech Tones, GHS, et al). Ric Fierabracci's soloing is full of musical content, great composition. You can order this DVD from Frank's website (see links page) and get it personally autographed by Frank himself.
SHAWN LANE: PARIS, THE 2001 CONCERT AT NEW MORNING
Shawn Lane (guitar), Jonas Hellborg (bass) and the Vinayakrams (vocals,kanjeera & ghatam)
An incredible performance before a French audience. The virtuoso guitarist from Nashville, the legendary Sweedish bass player and the Indian percussionist and vocalist illustrate the universal language of music. East meets West. Unbelievable guitar skills. High quality audio and video production. A truly unique DVD.
Recommended CDs:
BRIAN ENO : ANOTHER DAY ON EARTH
Brian Eno (all compositions, keyboards, vocals). Leo Abraham & Steve Jones (guitars), Jon Hopkins (keyboards),
Nell Catchpole (violin)
Recent very successful effort of Eno to make a CD of songs. Simple and beautiful chord progressions, unusual sonics, sand fresh drum programming. A great collection of song - structured electronica, not ambient music.
UNCLE MOE'S SPACE RANCH
Brett Garsed (guitar), T.J. Helmerich (guitar), Gary Willis (bass), Dennis Chambers (drums), Scott Kinsey (keyboards)
Best fusion record in a long, long time. This is one time when a collaboration of superstars actually produces a collection of songs that are at once consistent and eclectic, and slamming all the way through. A must have for fans of fusion.
...you're listening to 'Act of Will' by Brand X...