Thursday, October 03, 2013

DVD: Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott's (2007)

Having seen a few clips of this show on YouTube, I have finally managed to get a copy on DVD in order to hear it in good sound quality. I really enjoyed the bits I had seen c/o the www, but to hear the whole show through a good sound system was... well absolutely stunning.

In 2007 Jeff Beck had assembled a phenomenal band of musicians, Jason Rebello on keys, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. As Jeff Beck notes on the accompanying interview on the disc, "these guys are just world class, world class!" He's not exaggerating either, the playing on the tracks taken from Beck's week-long residence at Ronnie Scott's club in London is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and in places so beautiful that it is actually very moving.

Jason Rebello is a fine keys player, while Tal Wilkenfeld's bass work is simply gorgeous. Vinnie Colauita is a stupendous drummer, whose extraordinary playing forms a backbone to all the songs the band present, as they play to his awesome grooves and outrageous fills. Jeff Beck of course, is a master of his craft and leads his band seamlessly through rock, blues, jazz, fusion and reggae with style and mastery of his instrument. The fact that he can call on the likes of Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Imogen Heap, to join him on stage, while Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Jon Bon Jovi and Brian May watch him from the stalls, demonstrates the esteemed in which Beck is held by fellow musicians.

I have resisted buying this DVD for ages because of the price (you can see these at £40+!), but spotted one for sale for £7 recently, what a bargain! Here's a clip from the DVD courtesy of YouTube. The band are playing a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Cause we've ended as lovers", and has some lovely brush-work on the drums, some delicate guitar from Mr Beck and bass solo that will make you weep from Tal Wilkenfeld. I think this is just magic.


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