Jeff Beck's Jan Hammer Appreciation Tour 2004

[Jamie]

Well I went to see Mr Beck last night, absolutely overcharged, been looking forward to it for 14 years!!

He announced at the start of the gig he was joined by Jan Hammer on keyboards, and that promised to be interesting.

Except that he didn't play anything but an E-A vamp all through the first song....Jan played all the guitar parts. If you'd been sitting further back and weren't a player, you might have thought it was Jeff, but from the front row it was painfully obvious he wasn't trying....at all.

And after three songs when for a lot of the time he just stood around and pointed at "Jammer's" undeniable skill, I was ready to walk out. He then launched into Roy's Toy, and I thought, well, maybe another chance, then. And I was starting to get into it, the guitar started to really kick off, and then I looked over, and he'd stopped playing again - Jan was playing it all.

After a couple of known songs which Jan Hammer played everything including the intros to, and some woeful displays of tapping, he finally launched into Whistlin' Blues, for which he played all the way through, and was unbelievable - Nadia followed and that was great, and then they launched into A Day in The Life. If any of you have listened to the version at BB King's Blues Bar its amazing - but guess what.

This was dominated by piano, and all the tricks & everything that made it so raw and intelligent in the version I'd heard on CD, was swamped by swathes of electric piano and rack upon rack of synths.

At this point I walked out in disgust. Maybe if you went to see him every month, and he brought Jan on as a special guest one month and let him take centre stage, fair enough. But the guy's first tour for 14 years and he didn't even bother to play more than 20% of the time - I feel he dropped the ball on this one and I can't get over the disappointment....

Anybody had any better experiences of this tour? I'm sick as a parrot.

[GuyCool]

That's a shame!

The Beck/hammer collaborations from the seventies were my fave era Beck-Blue Wind etc
I'd love to see them both-should have been supercharged.

maybe Beck was on an off night??

Guy

[Jamie]

Well, he is 60 or so, but having waited so long to see him, pretty disappointing to catch him on an off night after all that time.

Perhaps thats part of the problem, he's so used to a studio-based / jamming environment that the show element passes him by.

[monkeyboy]

Sorry to hear there was so much 'Jansterbation'. I'm off to see them on Wednesday so I hope it's not a repeat performance (but I fear it will be).

I'll definately see out the entire gig though (especially at £35 for a ticket!)

Haydn

[monkeyboy]

I've just returned from the Albert Hall gig.

I must say I didn't have the same experience as you I'm glad to say.

Played loads of old stuff off Wired etc. Jan played a few solos but no more than on the original tracks. Certainly on everything else he played the consumate side man - tasteful and non intrusive.

Highlights included Nadia, Roll & Thunder and the truly amazing 'Where Were You' (my firend's words were it was worth the price of admission for that alone).

Also had a couple of vocalists who came on one of which did 'Cry me a River' - beautiful solo.

Even had 'special guest; Ronnie Wood - got the impression Ronnie had spent far too much time in the green room before hand. Also stumbled on for People Get Ready which was a bit shambolic.

And even more guests - Vic Reeves burst on stage while they were all bowing at the end

And those amazing guitar tones too.

Sorry your gig wasn't what you wanted/expected - this one really hit the mark. Definately worth every penny and for me also worth waiting 14 years for.

And G3 next week too - brilliant!

Cheers,

Haydn

[Jamie]

Sounds a lot better, JB must have been on an off-night for me. Glad there weren't too many "Jantics".

G3 last night for me and it was superb, surprisingly Satch stole the show he was just full of energy and enthusiasm and played for an hour solid himself.

The crowd rushed to the front at the end for Rockin' in the Free World and the obligatory pick-throwing, so the G3 guys had a real good time too - its a seated auditorium so it was a bit staid throughout.

Won't spoil any more, enjoy....

[Jamie]

Albert Hall as well.....jeez......I'd make an effort too!