Even though I had the pleasure of seeing Jeff Beck in concert back in the '90s, I've been collecting live DVDs and Blu-rays of his for the past few years. The latest addition to my growing collection is Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo.
Hitting stores this week, Live in Tokyo finds the former Yardbirds guitarist cherry-picking songs from his deep discography, as well as cover material. Filmed in April of 2014 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall as part of a Japanese tour, the concert was one of the first gigs with Beck's backing band of Jonathan Joseph (drums), Nicolas Meier (guitars), and Rhonda Smith (bass).
A musician who has also worked with the likes of Prince, Lee Ritenour, and Chaka Khan, Smith is a joy to watch in the concert. The jazz-influenced bassist lays down the deep grooves while wearing a smile on her face that screams, "I'm sharing the stage with Jeff fucking Beck!"
More recent Beck cuts like "Hammerhead" and "Corpus Christi Carol" sit nicely in the set alongside classic numbers like "Led Boots" and "'Cause We've Ended as Lovers." The group's rendition of the Beatles standard, "A Day in the Life," is a standout moment on the Blu-ray, featuring some gorgeous guitar work from Beck and Meier.
Filmed for Blu-ray, I watched Live in Tokyo while drinking a few beers on my couch the other night, and I can't think of a better way to soak it in.
Get It
- Amazon (Blu-ray)
