Yes, Jack Bruce recently departed from this earth, but the decision to make this 2 dvd set a ROTW had no sentimental value to it. Filmed in two gigs on stage from November 1993 in Cologne, this is a wide ranging panorama of what the mind of a creative and boundless artist is capable of achieving. In celebration of his then 50th birthday, Bruce brings together buddies including Ginger Baker/ts, Dick Heckstall-Smith/ts, Clem Clempson/g (who bears a striking resemblance to Eric Clapton FYI), Simon P hillips/d, Bernie Worrell/p and blueswailing guitarist Gary Moore for a wide ranging and soul satisfying mix of Cream, classics and Chicago blues.
He opens the concert bowing on a bass an “Improvisation On Minuet No. 1” before delivering a lovely piano solo on “FM.” Intimate singing on “Can You Follow? “ and “Running Thro’ Our Hands” all set the stage for an eclectic evening of music inquiry. A hip jazzy take of “The Tube” includes some modern jazz tenor work by Heckstall-Smith before the horns come out with some Memphis soul on “Neighbor, Neighbor” and “Born Under A Bad Sign” which have Bruce in wonderful vocal form.”
Highlights? Ya gotta be kidding! A guilty pleasure has to be the 2 cellos and acoustic guitar of the understated Cream classic “As You Said” while Baker thunders away on a smoking “NSU.” Bruce’s slick bass work is in evidence on a snappy “White Room” and a brassy “Sunshine of Your Love.” Then, all gets kicked up a notch as blues rocker Gary Moore slides on stage and tears apart Cream hits like “Politician,” Spoonful” and a closing “White Room.” As they say, it doesn’t get better than this!
There are various incarnations of this celebration, some with cds, some just with dvds. Get any and get all. Pass them around!
MIG Music DVD