Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First of all, it should be noted that this same CD is available direct from JB's own web site at less than half the price of this Japan import. Also, it's a great disc and I highly recommend it.
HOWEVER:
As you can see from the Los Angeles Greek Theater ticket image I loaded above, I attended that show. The Greek event had many additional songs, guests and aspects that were unique to that show. While this CD has some great performances, sadly, most of what made the Greek date so special never made it to this disc.
Below this is a review I wrote for some fellow JB-heads the morning after. After you read this, and then listen to this disc, you'll probably roll your eyes and go "aw, geeeeeezzzz", the way I did.
9/29/06:
Well, let's go see Jeff Beck and do The Time Warp Again, because this show was a complete 180 from my expectations. There was little of the recent techno-based material; the majority was from the Blow By Blow/Wired and earlier eras, so it was obviously designed to be a "greatest hits" show.
Of special surprise, after opening with "Beck's Bolero", the band launched into my favorite Billy Cobham tune, "Stratus". Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta isn't Cobham (but then, who is?), but Vinnie is a monster on the skins in his own right and did a great job.
This band was a quartet, with Jason Rebello on keys, who had all the Hammer-Korg lightning solo routines down to a -T. But the real treat came as the band were joined sporadically throughout the show by great guests, most notably Beth Hart.
Hart tore thru a smokin' set of "You Shook Me", "Going Down", which segued into James Brown's "I Got The Feelin", Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", and more than adequately filled Rod Stewart's shoes on "I Ain't Superstitious". (NONE of which is on this CD)
L. Shankar, most notable for his stint with Peter Gabriel in the 90's, came out to assist on electric violin on a gorgeous "Naida", complete with a great Indian percussion turn by Colaiuta. (The L. Shankar version is not on this CD)
Without Jennifer Batten on stage to push him, there seemed to be less guitar-pyrotechnics from Beck. But, as there were nearly as many slow numbers as upbeat tunes, listening to him showcased against quiet accompaniment, especially with his unmatched skill at harmonics, was a real treat.
The show had a few nasty hitches: Beck broke a string in one number, then his Marshall stack developed a bad intermittent and recurrent buzz that finally had him on his knees, guitar unslung and yelling "mother******!", while the tech desperately tried to solve the problem. You could see he was just mortified to his core, but the crowd gave him a consoling standing ovation.
After the first hour, they took a 10-minute break to "set-up", and a string ensemble joined the proceedings. Apparently, the Greek show was the only venue on this tour to get this:
9/11/06, Billboard Magazine: Jeff Beck has a special surprise in store for the audience at his Sept. 28 performance at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre. During the show, Beck will be joined by a 14-piece string section to perform for the first time a selection of material from his 1975 album "Blow by Blow" in the manner it was recorded. The string arrangements are being overseen by legendary producer George Martin.
The all-female, easy-on-the-eyes ensemble were thoroughly enjoyable on the slow numbers, but hopelessly drowned out otherwise.
That is, until the encores. The first was the version of Lennon's "A Day In The Life" he has been doing for the past few years, only with the string section, it was just stunning. (Not on this CD, either, arrrgggh) The last number was Beck, a cappella with a bottleneck, and the ensemble with Rebello conducting, on a gorgeous "Over The Rainbow". (Well, at least this made it to the disc!)
I enjoyed this show more than the 2001 Batten-quartet Gibson Ampitheatre show, which was marred by overwrought sound and annoying lighting. Here, the sound was perfectly balanced and the lighting respectfully subdued. I think Beck's playing is more raw and incendiary with Batten, but, again, this was an enjoyable experience tailored to the long-time fan, and with all the Greek-only facets, it was a very unique show.
(And, it could have made for an even more awesome 2CD set.)
(Sigh.)
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Official Bootleg Usa 06 (W/Book)Japanese Blu-Spec CD pressing of this classic album. The Blue Spec format takes Blu-ray disc technology to create CD's which are compatible with normal CD players but provides ultra high quality sound. Sony. 2009.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.
Click here for more information about Official Bootleg Usa 06 (W/Book)
