Has there ever been a guitar player the likes of Jeff Beck? I think not.
"This album pre-dated a very fruitful and active time for Beck where, his next studio record; the positively epic and mind blowing “There and Back” launched him into the true stratosphere of all the time great players and he has not looked back since."
December 5th, Hump day 2018! Welcome to “Way-Beyond-Great-Wednesday!” Today’s selection is “Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Group Live”
Folks, if you claim to be a fan of electric guitar and Jeff Beck isn’t near the very top of your most respected or favorite guitar players, then I question your claim of being an electric guitar fan. There have been a lot of influential players throughout the golden decades of the electric guitar, but few to my ears have shown as much originality and creativity while using nothing more than the guitar and amp itself. If you’ve never seen Jeff Beck live, put all other quests for tickets out of your mind and make a pact with yourself that you’re going to do whatever it takes to see him live, and soon. You won’t regret one moment of your decision.
As for this album, it is of material recorded from mid 1976 through early 1977 but there is not much info on the exact locations where the performances were captured via the album jacket or sleeve, nor are there any meaningful production credits or information given. The speculation is that it was captured during a stop at the Astor Theater in Reading PA. Apparently it was originally mixed by Beck himself at Allen Toussaiint’s studio in New Orleans, but then subsequently remixed by Jan Hammer with Dennis Weinreich at Scorpio Sound Studios in London England.
This album is not a “sonic” masterpiece, but the performances are simply fantastic. This album pre-dated a very fruitful and active time for Beck where, his next studio record; the positively epic and mind blowing “There and Back” launched him into the true stratosphere of all the time great players and he has not looked back since. Every subsequent record was fresh and frankly, incredible. If you’ve seen his performances with Vinnie Colaiuta and Tal Wikenfeld from The Crossroads Festival, it was is readily apparent he is still completely energized by guitar and music. I challenge you, hell I dare you, to start watching that performance and be able to actually turn it off.
Lesson for the day; whenever Jeff Beck has a guitar around his neck. Stop, drop everything you’re doing, focus and listen in. Just let all of the troubles of the day and of the world fade into the background as you ponder how the hell he’s actually doing that and just where that level of creativity and connectivity to the electric guitar might emanate from. It will be a joyous, yet humbling moment for you.
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