Jeff Beck, guitar maestro - DVD review

Finally I have my own copy of this DVD and I was pleasantly surprised that this historic performance at the intimate Ronnie Scotts easily beats their amazing concert in Auckland. (I saw Jeff Beck (Link to excellent video on Drummerworld which shows an excerpt from this DVD), Vinnie Colaiuta , Tal Wilkenfeld and Dave Sancious rip through one of the most amazing one and half hours of spell-binding music when they played in Auckland at the end of their Australasian tour (3 February 2009). They pretty much covered all the songs on the Ronnie Scott set list although omitting `Space Boogie' and including I think a Tony Williams "Lifetime" track, that Tal seemed to lead.) Yet the DVD is even better because of three reasons:

1. The DVD allows you so close that you can see every action of Beck's playing (which even with binoculars I couldn't quite see at the concert)
2. There is greater variety in this concert in comparison with their tour as here there is the addition of soulful singing of guest artists. Joss Stone with 'People get ready', Imogen Heap with 'Blanket' and the driving 'Rollin'and Tumblin'' which provides opportunity for Becko to show his support and bluesy side.
3. This DVD records the historic magic of two blues songs sung and played by Eric Clapton and Becko...with Jimmy Page watching in the audience. Wow!

If you have only heard Jeff Beck then a live performance or this DVD, is a must. I had never seen Jeff Beck play before so was astounded to watch his unique style of brushing the strings with his thumb, caressing the whammy and combined with volume swells producing those tones that only he can do. As you'll see, he doesn't use a pick at all.

This is unique in that as far as I am aware this is the first full DVD concert of the drumming maestro, Vinnie Colaiuta (other than specialized Drumming festival DVDs). This intense rock fusion catalogue of Beck's is brilliant with its varied time signatures from reggae to poly-rhythm frenzy to showcase Vinnie's talents - but always within the context of the song and the music. Next to the diminutive figure of Jeff and Tal, Vinnie is a tall man and his enthusiasm, smiles and outright mastery capture and add to all the Richard Bailey, Simon Phillips and Terry Bozzio fills that we know from albums like `Blow by Blow', `Wired', 'Guitar shop' and the rest of the Beck catalogue. To hear Vinnie live is great - watching is an overwhelming marvel.

My only criticism of this DVD is that in the first few songs including 'Stratus', the camera work misses most of Vinnie's great fills. This is most frustrating and often the camera panned onto a watching Jeff or the face of a smiling Tal while missing sublime drumming. Fortunately this concert has a enough opportunity to see Vinnie at other times but generally the small venue meant that there are never great views of the drum kit. Fortunately this does not apply to the clear camera work on Jeff's fretboard.

Seeing the young Tal on bass melodically groove with these musos all at least 30 years older than her is a salute to the longevity of the music that we have come to know as rock fusion. There is a sense of togetherness and fun as they all interact and watch each other. Jason Rebello is literally out of the picture for the first quarter of the concert but later takes a more prominent role and takes a number of great solos.

As usual Eagle Vision have exemplary production qualities and the sound, 5.1 and DTS, is magnificent.

Jeff, doesn't speak much other than to thank guest artists and the audience at the end. He just plays his heart out. Hammering, tapping, wrenching and bending strings, Jeff shows how far he has explored where his contemporaries of that generation have never ventured. This best value DVD is an historic showcase that salutes the master guitarist in top form still playing as if there are no tomorrows.