Jeff Beck on Jools Holland

chapperz66 · May 22, 2010, 03:21:48 AM

Did anyone catch Jeff Beck on Jools Holland last night? Was anybody else slightly disappointed? Before I go any further I must be clear; Jeff has been a hero of mine for ever. His tone and tasteful technique is second to none and albums like Blow by Blow will always be on my desert-island-disc list. But his rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" left me a bit cold. Sure he played it well, but it didn't move me the way his playing usually does and it really wasn't what I wanted to hear. It was all a bit too "Shadows" for me and smacked a bit too much of over-60s commercialism.

It's not that I hate the song - if you want to hear a song full of emotion then Eva Cassidy's version takes some beating, and Tommy Emmanuel's version is about as fine a showcase of guitar skills as any. And I don't even dislike the Shadows - although they are not a personal favourite of mine, they have their place.

I was just really disappointed. Not sure I'm going to rush out and buy the album.

Paul

Oldrottenhead · May 22, 2010, 03:29:10 AM

i was a bit let down too, but it's a live show, so i wonder how long the bands get to prepare before they play. but yes it was dissapointing

Oldrottenhead · May 22, 2010, 03:30:54 AM

judge for yourself here is the clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0FT7FO5Xe8

Oldrottenhead · May 22, 2010, 03:32:33 AM

dont think he was too pleased either he slaps his head at the end

Gnasty · May 22, 2010, 08:55:02 AM

Yeah i dont think it wasn`t that he liked his rendition. I think he wasn`t happy with his tone.

The harmonics worked well for him throughout but there was a couple that didn`t come through weather it was his amp settings or if he hit them perfect enough. You have to be prcise in some areas at the top of the fretboard.

Still really cool though.

AndyR · May 22, 2010, 10:14:20 AM

I was talking about this on another forum... they were saying how disappointing it was, and I said how I thought he was a bit p1ssed off with his performance...

I hate to admit this, specially a guitarist my age, I know bugger all about Jeff Back (except Truth and Beck-Ola), and I'm not sure I've ever seen footage of him before.

The reason I stayed up (and suffered a tuneless Alicia Keys, etc

) was the Jeff Back slot. The minute the strings started I realised I wasn't going to get quite what I'd imagined...

BUT... I did see enough in what he was doing to appreciate just how amazing this bloke's playing is...

"Still really cool though" +1

Gu Djin · May 22, 2010, 02:00:05 PM

I watched the video. If I'd known he was on Jules I would have watched that. It wasn't a brilliant performance, but I searched this one out on Youtube for those who may not have liked this version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgGvml0cOKA

Still my guitar hero.

Leigh

Bluesberry · May 22, 2010, 04:07:23 PM

I think it was still pretty damn good if it was not up to the usual brilliance of Jeff Beck. That is part of the Jeff Beck mystique, he is on and then off, some nights so brilliant you can't believe, other nights, sorta off, he is human, and he is very emotional when he plays. His whole career has been like this. But holy shit guys, watch what he is doing here, picking with his thumb, playing with the volume knob and tremolo and hitting harmonics, all at the same time, with almost no effects and a very clean amp. I don't know about you guys, but that is brilliant playing in my books. I think his tone was not what he is used to because of playing against a rather quiet orchestra, no bass an drums to back up his usually huge sound. I really enjoyed this and to think, if this is a "off" night (he hits his head twice after it is over, so he was not satisfied), what the hell is he like on a "on" night. He is a monster.

Here is a "on" night for him, check out the part right after the hot bass solo, smoking. I really like watching his bass player too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V79owj81p0o

Tony W · May 22, 2010, 04:44:56 PM

That bass has a nice boob holder

64Guitars · May 22, 2010, 05:21:01 PM

I think the YouTube clip that oldrottenhead posted was the live performance from Tuesday night's show. Here's the pre-recorded version which was broadcast Friday night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-UR4IGBUJQ
"Over the Rainbow" (starts at about 3:43)

I think both performances are amazing. His technique is brilliant. I love how he plays entire phrases with just the whammy bar (no left hand finger movement).

Here's one of my favourite Jeff Beck videos: