Rock legends Deep Purple were on fire last night in Auckland's Vector arena. This was an invigorated, imaginative show where Purple looked sharper than what they did ten years ago. These masters of rock get better each time I see them. This was the heaviest yet cleanest sound - well done to the sound desk crew - Paice's drum sound was crisp and thunderous with every tom audible and distinct, Airey's keyboard expansive and majestic, while Morse took his usual amazing playing to another level on his own instrumental composition, "Contact lost". There were many Morse highlights including his soaring and arpeggio shredding over some Blackmore classics including the evocative "Wasted sunsets" and "Maybe I'm a Leo". (Have a look at this great Youtube clip of Morse last year in Moscow playing the solo of "Wasted sunsets" - Gillan even wore the same t-shirt in Auckland.) The concert ramped up as DP added menace with "The Battle rages on". As Gillan said after the first few rockers, "That was the jazz bit of the set, Now it's time to rock 'n roll" .
Deep Purple looked fit and lean, full of smiles and good time eagerness. Like the experienced professionals they are, they tackled songs from the 70's with spectacular lighting, the best that I have experienced at a Purple concert. (This includes watching two previous live concerts - 1995 and 2004 plus various DVD concerts through the 2000's). I loved the way they musically built up well known tracks and added dramatic interludes like short pulverizing drum solos or keyboard breaks to keep the creativity and interest, yet keeping the structure and not tampering with their classic repertoire or sound.
There was a palpable excitement from the group that was reflected in the crowd who were certainly more vocal and engaged than when Journey were on stage before hand. Airey played an extended and powerful keyboard showcase that included a beautiful rendition of the traditional New Zealand "Pokarekare Ana" and then came the distinctive opening chords of "Perfect Strangers" which ripped through the arena. This was another highlight of the show with everyone on top form for "Perfect Strangers" and the strobe lighting at the end of this was mesmerizing. On the "Live at Montreux 2006" I thought Gillan was at times singing flat and was apprehensive to hear him. Clearly he has managed his voice carefully in the intervening years and was strong and exerted his power cleverly. I thought he was amazing. They are all amazing.
The encore was an extended triumph with "Smoke on the water" easily the heaviest version I have heard as Morse chugged his opening barrage with metal menace. If they have played this only 30 times a year that would still be over a thousand performances of it but it sounded as fresh as ever. Finally the crowd participation singing in a call and response to answer Morse's guitar on "Blacknight" lifted the evening to a fitting crescendo. Take a bow, Deep Purple, that was some show!
Go and see them, Australia - they are the fire of the classic rock generation playing with the fervor, the improvisation and spark that is missing in today's rock. I saw something special last night. Legends indeed.
For great photos and review - see 13th floor site
P.S. After that performance, I am even more intrigued to hear their new album when it is released in April.
Testimony
is a complex, powerful rock opera of violin, viola, saxophone and pedal steel guitar, intermingled with fiery Fender guitar rock, Latin-tinged acoustic guitar, classical flute, tight vocal harmonies over no-holds bar drumming. I try in words to capture just the first 45 minutes of Neal Morse's Testimony live concert. This is heartfelt, passionate rock - with every genre from progressive to pop intermingled in this amazing 2003 live performance - the testimony of Morse's journey into the light.
It has been 5 years since I bought this DVD. This is a concert to behold and each time I go back and listen my spirit is lifted - there is something deeply attractive about this rock opera - it's a combination of the powerful music motifs and the emotionally rendered personal message of spiritual revelation sung by the multi-talented, composer, singer, keyboardist guitarist - Neal Morse.
Actual running time is 255 minutes of a riveting performance of eight musicians. Most of them, other than Morse and Portnoy, I had never heard before - but that just indicates how many multi-talented unknown professional musicians are out there. Eric Brenton
was particularly impressive and takes a pivotal role as lead guitarist, violinist, flautist, pedal steel guitarist and then throw in some mandolin as well!
All the musicians seem engrossed with the music and the fun element is palpable - these guys enjoyed themselves. It is infectious watching, so much so that we have a break out of dancing during the hoe-down with an incredible Morse acoustic chicken-picking guitar battle with Breton on violin. Yes, I forgot, in "Sing it high" there is even a blue-grass section like a Dixie Dregs workout except Morse also intertwines country tight vocal harmonies as well. Yes, the Christian message is strong, and Neal's life story comes across very clearly with his unaffected, annunciated vocal style that is influenced more by the Beatles, Beach Boy approach than anything from this century. For some the lyrics will attract and I realise from reading reviews on Amazon that also repels some. An observation is that Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), the monster drummer that sets the stage alight and drives much of the musical excitement in this concert, is obviously attracted enough to the music to play with his usual enthusiasm and intensity - irrespective of the message.
I think all Christians who have a bent towards contemporary music will find this DVD strongly resonates with them. It's a powerful musical message that tells all our stories in a way - even if this is Neal's personal story. You are missing out if you haven't heard Neal Morse's work. Clearly he has taken over the mantle of Kerry Livgren
in keeping the message of the eternal alive in progressive rock .
Some of this strangely reminds me of the musical `Les Miserables'(a rock version perhaps) in that there is a story over repeating musical motifs that echo through this entire concert. Indeed there are three Overtures that begin the five parts. The wonderful variety means that when the story and quieter interludes just begin to lengthen you are jolted into the next part with intense instrumental pieces - this is never impromptu jamming but tightly structured. The breaks and accapella vocal harmonies that cut through frenzied playing is spine tingling - and when they move into "The storm before the calm" with the repeat prog motif from Overture No.1 you feel like cheering yourself. It is during this central prog motif that Portnoy is finally unleashed to play some of his most memorable ensemble playing. Even Neal is visibly excited as he bends over his keyboard to allow an unobstructed view of Portnoy's tom-tom theatrics that propels this repeating prog motif to a crescendo. Wow!
Stylistically there are echoes of Kansas
, Dregs
, Pink Floyd, Yes, Beatles and Beach boys! A real musical blend but with an unmistakable melodic Morse stamp. The concert begins and closes with Morse singing alone just with acoustic guitar and then finally piano - his connection with the audience direct and engaging. This is a powerful and moving concert.
Some DVD comments - unfortunately this is only available in stereo. I'd love to have heard this in DTS! Fortunately this is still a rich, well recorded concert; drums and percussion subtleties all coming through so you can still differentiate between the multi-keyboard, strings and guitars and splash cymbal. Camera work is above average and the overhead camera on the drums is something I wish we saw more often. There are no intrusive artistic fades instead an appropriate mix of wide shots of the entire stage cutting to close ups of musicians as they play key breaks or to visually highlight aspects of the performance.
PS: And then there is disc two - where they come back on stage for a three track lengthy heavier 54 minute encore with Transatlantic 
tracks "We all need some light", "The light" and "Stranger in your soul".
5 stars for great value, 5 stars as a musical statement and for excitement. The lack of 5.1 or DTS sound unfortunately prevents a 5 out of 5. It is still in my top 5 favourite concert DVDs.
I
have always had a weakness for powerful rock and fusion concerts - I'm talking everything from Dream Theater, Tribal Tech to Chick Corea and Mike Stern. Big bands have never really featured as my favourite cup of tea. Yes, I have a few big band albums but generally wouldn't go out of my way to purchase new albums. This hopefully puts into context my next statement: "Some Skunk Funk" Live at Leverkusener Jazztage is the best live DVD I have in my 50 plus DVD concert collection. I know why I play this DVD again and again. The musicianship is outstanding, the compositions stirring and exciting, the recording brilliant - both visuals and audio.
Wow, this is better than what I'd ever have imagined. This kicks serious DTS system butt. Play this loudly and experience the glory of a big band in full flight. The all enveloping sound of the WDR Big Band (Cologne - Germany) conducted by Vince Mendoza has a world class reputation but when combined with the legends, Randy and Michael Brecker - then you know you are in for a joyous ride.
This concert won the Grammy Award 2007 for Best Large Jazz ensemble album and Best Instrumental solo. The concert was an 11 November 2003 celebration for Randy Brecker's music (although he uses mainly compositions from the Brecker Brothers songbook both early and reunion years). Randy has longtime friends Will Lee on bass, Jim Beard on piano and Peter Erskine on drums.
At first I was disappointed that dear brother Michael didn't play on every track - but this allows for an anticipation when he does join in. I must admit that I still get emotional when I see the brothers play with such synchronicity. Michael's passing has left a huge vaccuum so to hear him here playing at the peak of his career ripping into "Some Skunk Funk" and the finale "Song for Barry" is breath taking. I can only hope that there are still other stellar recordings of Michael playing live that are still to be released. If not, then this is also an historic recording.
There is so much to like about this DVD. The film editing is superb as the camera pans perfectly to catch an Erskine fill, or to see Mr Long thumb Lee popping and jumping on bass. These guys were sure energetic and enthusiastic that night! Randy commands on trumpet and grows stronger as the night progresses. I loved his exploratory solos that showed an edginess inspite of the pressure of the occasion. He humbly allows his brother to join in the limelight and the result is an incredible perfomance that finishes much too soon (70 precious minutes of sublime concert power).
My highest recommendation.
"
Two for the Show" remastered is now the definitive Kansas album to get. Yes, it's live but this is the essence of the band. Six great musicians who were so much more together live on stage. What passion, musicality, power and emotion. This has everything from the hits like "Dust in the wind" and "Carry on wayward son" to progressive epics that show what six people interchanging from double keyboards to double guitar attack with soaring violin and harmony vocals can do. Their emotional epics are more melodically classical than any of their European prog counterparts of that time, and they certainly knew how to rock harder.
In 1978 this was an outstanding live record and 30 plus years later it not only has stood the test of time but is MUCH better. This edition has another 11 live remastered tracks added on a second CD. These are no fillers - these are phenomenal tracks that I can't believe were excluded initially.
Have a look at my customer image that shows the inner sleeve of the new cool digipak plus a picture from the great booklet. This is no rerelease just to increase income - no, this is part of their legacy, an extended creative effort that offers so much more than the double LP and single CD version of the 90s.
Wow, the 11 new tracks - a whole added album of 75 minutes. These tracks seem to breathe more than the first CD. By that I mean there seems more spacious musical introductions and exploration. Clearly this is why they couldn't be included initially on an already double LP record.
The opening track of the 'new' material, "Hopelessly human" contains all the elements that instantly let you know this is the mighty Kansas in full flight. Long orchestrations of interwoven musical motifs and changing tempos - from ballad gentle vocals over piano to full pipe organ, monstrous drum fills with melodic lead guitar all finally culminating with anthem like bells. This is hair raising stuff!
The fresh stereo mix makes it easy to hear how wonderfully Rich Williams and Kerry interwined their guitar leads as well as showing the contrasting keyboard sounds from pipe organ to piano of Walsh and Livgren. Listen to the crunch surprise opening start of "Child of innocence" - makes ZZ Top seem tame. Indeed this track is a wonderful example of displaying the strengths of this band as the dual vocals of Steinhardt and Steve Walsh create the tight harmony which includes a falsetto harmony from Walsh,I think, that I've never heard before.
There are many other outstanding tracks including, "Closet Chronicles" and "Miracles out of nowhere". Indeed there is not one filler track here. I bought this album from Amazon last week and have been playing it ever since. (That means my other new purchases - new Dream Theater, SACD Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon and Yellowjackets have been ejected for a while)
This double live CD will take you on an exciting journey through their first and greatest five albums with more passion and interaction than the studio versions. For faithful Kansas rockers I trust you purchased this long ago, unlike me. If not don't hesitate.
Rock legends Deep Purple were on fire last night in Auckland's Vector arena. This was an invigorated, imaginative show where Purple looked sharper than what they did ten years ago. These masters of rock get better each time I see them. This was the heaviest yet cleanest sound - well done to the sound desk crew - Paice's drum sound was crisp and thunderous with every tom audible and distinct, Airey's keyboard expansive and majestic, while Morse took his usual amazing playing to another level on his own instrumental composition, "Contact lost". There were many Morse highlights including his soaring and arpeggio shredding over some Blackmore classics including the evocative "Wasted sunsets" and "Maybe I'm a Leo". (Have a look at this great Youtube clip of Morse last year in Moscow playing the solo of "Wasted sunsets" - Gillan even wore the same t-shirt in Auckland.) The concert ramped up as DP added menace with "The Battle rages on". As Gillan said after the first few rockers, "That was the jazz bit of the set, Now it's time to rock 'n roll" .
There was a palpable excitement from the group that was reflected in the crowd who were certainly more vocal and engaged than when Journey were on stage before hand. Airey played an extended and powerful keyboard showcase that included a beautiful rendition of the traditional New Zealand "Pokarekare Ana" and then came the distinctive opening chords of "Perfect Strangers" which ripped through the arena. This was another highlight of the show with everyone on top form for "Perfect Strangers" and the strobe lighting at the end of this was mesmerizing. On the "Live at Montreux 2006" I thought Gillan was at times singing flat and was apprehensive to hear him. Clearly he has managed his voice carefully in the intervening years and was strong and exerted his power cleverly. I thought he was amazing. They are all amazing. 
