Jeff Beck
(Eagle)
Jeff Beck first earned his strings... and his stripes... more than 40 years ago, when he succeeded Eric Clapton at the helm of the Yardbirds and subsequently founded his own outfit in the company of a young Rod Stewart and a fledgling bassist named Ron Wood. The Jeff Beck Group underwent several mutations over the years, evolving from a proficient hard rock and blues band to one of the more remarkable fusion ensembles of the ‘70s, firmly establishing Beck himself as a preeminent musical figure who could master a multitude of genres.
Whereas early contemporaries like Clapton and Jimmy Page established their repute in the company of others - Clapton in Cream and Page in Led Zeppelin - Beck's brilliance was self-made and self-contained. Nevertheless, he's always attracted an outstanding array of players to complement his searing style - musicians who sometimes boasted stellar reputations, but more often than not, distinguished themselves simply through their skills. That's evident here in this explosive set by this latest incarnation of the Jeff Beck Band, featuring Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Jason Rebello on keyboards and Tal Wilkenfeld - one of Beck's more remarkable discoveries, she's been setting the jazz and jamband worlds on fire of late -- on bass. Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's, one of the world's most renowned jazz venues, the energy and intensity remain at a peak throughout. Nevertheless, the range of material reflects Beck's ongoing fascination with all manner of sonic possibilities, from the opening apocalyptic onslaught of his signature "Beck's Bolero" to the prototypical jazz classic, Charles' Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," and the various tracks that defined his progressive path so early on. It's telling, too, the way he effortlessly reinterprets timeless classics like the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" and Stevie Wonder's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers," infusing each with the lyrical grace and emotional resolve implied in the originals. That ultimately may be Beck's greatest strength - to shift the moods and motifs and then transport his listeners to another dimension entirely.
Instrumental music is rarely as passionate or compelling as the sounds Beck sows here, and even those who find it difficult to connect when there's a lack of lyrics will find an authoritative presence as potent as that imbued by the most soulful singer. These excursions may soar to the outer fringes, but Beck never fails to get in his groove.
Standout Tracks: "Beck's Bolero," "Cause We Ended AS Lovers," "A Day in the Life" LEE ZIMMERMAN
