Re: Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck soars at New Orleans Jazz Fest
By Doug MacCash, The Times-Picayune
May 01, 2010, 7:21PM
Guitarist Jeff Beck plays on the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday.
Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz Festival Presented by Shell, introduced Jeff Beck with an unparalleled string of superlatives. Davis declared him a genius and more. Beck, Davis said, was simply the best guitarist to have emerged from rock.
Beck then appeared on stage wearing a white sleeveless jacket with Celtic pattern, white sleeveless shirt with Nehru collar, black pants with white piping, white pro wrestler boots, and multiple silver arm bands. His stage costume was the only part of his performance that was not an exercise in subtlety.
From the first song, Beck did everything possible to prove Davis right. Whether he's weaving angelic melodies like "People Get Ready," "Over the Rainbow;" or "A Day in the Life;" or scrubbing the strings of his white Fender to thunderous effect during "The Birth of the Blues," the clarity of Beck's playing is stunning.
Beck, who did not sing during the show, is especially interesting to watch on the big screen since he has a peculiar guitar style. He works without a pick, stroking the strings with his bare fingers and stretching notes with the tremolo bar to such sublime effect that it's as if he's singing through his guitar. And his backing band befits his, well, genius. This evening the Gentilly stage was awash in consummate jazz-inflected musicianship. Beck's bass player Rhonda Smith, who also handles most vocals, plays a starring role.
Between songs, Beck smiles sweetly and bends at the waist, with great humility for someone who proved today he's shoulder to shoulder with any guitar hero past or present. After the achingly beautiful encore, which the fan behind me recognized as an opera aria, Beck borrowed his keyboard player's hat so he could bow properly.
Bravo Beck!
Posted by gingerk
May 01, 2010, 8:47PM
Great review. Stunning performance. Rhonda Smith is a powerhouse and needs to headline a show. Proud to have witnessed it.
Posted by teagreen54
May 02, 2010, 1:15AM
Jeff Beck is one of my all time favorite musicians. I caught him back in 1972 on tour with the Mahavishnu Orchestra when the Blow By Blow album first came out. Blew me away. Then at City Park, the Warehouse, in D.C., Europe, the House of Blues and now Jazz Fest. Clapton & Page are rank amateurs compared to the artistic brilliance of Beck. Forever the innovator.
Posted by panacea
May 02, 2010, 8:03AM
JAZZFEST OFFICIALS- PLEASE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THE FEST TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Posted by cajunroach
May 02, 2010, 9:20AM
That was a stunning show. I've seen just about everybody.. and Jeff Beck was beyond anybody.
Posted by ahzroc
May 02, 2010, 10:10AM
I hope there was a good crowd for this show!
Guys! you should have taken your women to this...Jeff Becks' latest incarnation is a rare opportunity to enjoy the greatest in guitar wizardy with the coolest live sound, and at the same time experience a beautiful and truely emotional music program at the same time! Usually a 'guitar show' is a mostly male affair, but Beck, with his new album "Emotion and Commotion" has something for everyone ...the overwhelming Puccini aria "Nessun Dorma" , the soaring melodic riff from "never alone" ( just playing "Never Alone" on your personal system at home, in car, on boombox, mp3, whatever- THIS will give you a sample of the kind of gorgeous concert 'live sound' Jeff Beck produces...like swimming in a beautiful sonic ocean) this is the kind of beauty that couples can enjoy together...unlike most 'Guitar Olympics" shredfests that could not be more boring or leave you colder.
BRAVO!!!!!
