Joe Bonamassa Live At The Greek Theatre




Joe Bonamassa is a phenomenon.

I am continually amazed at his drive and determination to be the best there has ever been and his determination to take the blues to the masses.
He manages to re invent classic blues tracks time and again and with this his latest live release I honestly think he has topped them all.

On September the 23rd via Mascot Records and available on all formats (2 cd,blue ray,2 DVD and 3 LP vinyl) Live At The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles captures a moment in time where Joe and his quite incredible band run through a 2 hour set that they christened The Three Kings tour with a string of 14 US dates bringing the music of Albert King,B.B.King and Freddie King to life.
























Photo Credit: Christie Goodwin

Kevin Shirley really has worked his magic with a production that is immense and sounds absolutely huge with every band member playing their part as you would expect with the talent involved.

The eleven-piece band included Anton Fig (drums), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), Michael Rhodes (bass), Reese Wynans (piano, Hammond organ), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, horn arrangements), Paulie Cerra (saxophone), Nick Lane (trombone), and a trio of backup singers including Mahalia Barnes, Jade MacRae, and Juanita Tippins.























Photo Credit: Christie Goodwin

Each of them gets their own solo spots with Joe happy to slip into the shadows and let everyone shine.It really is very difficult to pick any highlights as the whole set is wonderful and Joe is on top form.

His vocal display shows how hard he has worked on that instrument too and the 3 piece female backing vocals all aid and only add to the performance.
He is in my opinion the best guitar player on the planet and I want to use the word searing as he hits solo after solo with a soul and tone to die for.He knows when to take it down quiet and his slow melodic soloing and note picking outstanding and then build it up to a climax time and again and just when you think that is it he goes again to another level.

Using a string of classic guitars including four Gibson ES models, a Gibson Les Paul, a Gibson Flying V, two new Gibson Custom Shop models, two Fender Strats, and a 1972 Dan Erlewine custom Flying V named "Lucy", originally owned and played by Freddie King and currently in the collection of actor Steven Seagal.



Each time I watch it you pick up another magic moment.Cadillac Assembly Line is one of those that builds from quiet beginnings.Joe's beautiful guitar melodies work magnificently with the backing trio vocals and Reese Wynans Hammond filling in any gaps before trombone and sax solo spots with the quite outstanding rhythm team of Anton Fig and Michael Rhodes making a rock solid base and the song then builds and builds with the rhythm base building the sound and more backing vocals as Joe attacks a solo of such force but a thing of beauty as his fingers create a soundscape of notes.




Breaking Up Somebody's Home sees some quite wonderful backing vocals that soar to the heavens and the horn section fill in all of the gaps as Joe solo's hard before it all finishes with some exquisite melodic picked notes.



I'll Play The Blues For You has an extended Kirk Fletcher guitar solo and shows what a player he is too.



Here in the UK we only got part of this set earlier in the year and watching this they have again captured a moment in Joe's career with a never to be repeated experience that those present will never forget.

Joe Bonamassa Live At The Greek Theatre is another success in a string of projects that prove time and again that we should all be thankful to a man who's cv just gets better and better with every release.

Quite superb.



Joe returns to The Royal Albert Hall in April 2017.


JOE BONAMASSA
A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO
THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
24 Hour Ticket Hotline: 0844 844 0444
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
THURSDAY 20th APRIL 2017

Venue Box Office: 020 7589 8212
24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444 
Tickets: www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates 
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk 
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
www.royalalberthall.com
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
FRIDAY 21st APRIL 2017

Venue Box Office: 020 7589 8212
24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444 
Tickets: www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates 
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk 
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
www.royalalberthall.com 


Popular Posts from last 30 Days