Jeff Beck – Rock n Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul)

• 10th Feb 2011

Jeff Beck is one of the finest guitarists of the electric guitar era. He replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds, has a string of solo hits to his name and is cited by many younger players as an inspiration.

So the man that Jeff Beck called his mentor must have been one hell of a guitarist – and that’s exactly what Les Paul was. He was also a multi million selling singer and songwriter with almost 50 hit singles to his name, but it is as a guitarist that he is best remembered.

Les Paul pioneered the development of the solid body electric guitar and he was the first to use multi track recording techniques, such as overdubbing and phasing, in the recording studio. Without Paul’s innovations, modern rock music might have sounded very different.

I was fortunate enough to see Les Paul play at the original Iridium on 63rd and 8th in New York City back in 2003. Even in his 80s, he was a quite brilliant guitarist and it remains one of my fondest musical memories.

This album was recorded at a special tribute show played on what would have been Paul’s 95th birthday. It took place in the new Iridium Jazz Club (Broadway and 51st for those who know New York), where Les Paul had played every Monday night for 8 years prior to his death in 2009.

Beck was joined for this very special night by singer Imelda May and her band, and there were also a number of guest performers including Brian Setzer and Gary “US” Bonds.

And some well-known musical names were in the audience too, including David Bowie, Meat Loaf, Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren.

The CD contains 20 tracks and is well worth getting hold of. It begins in fine style with three rock n roll songs that allow Beck to show just what he can do on the guitar. The Train Kept A Rollin’ features a fine solo, typical of Beck’s guitar work throughout the night.

Imelda May then takes the lead vocal on many of the tracks including a tender rendition of Cry Me A River, the lovely Vaya Con Dios and a soulful I’m A Fool To Care. She does a great job of recreating the fifties vocal stylings that suit these songs so well and demonstrates that she is a very talented singer.

Then it’s back to the rock, with a fast paced version of Rockin’ Is Our Bizness featuring some more quick fingered guitar work from Beck, while the instrumentals Apache and Sleep Walk are note perfect.

Gary “US” Bonds’ version of the rock standard New Orleans is devastating in its power and energy, featuring great vocals and guitar as well as a superb sax solo. And Brian Setzer, formerly of the Stray Cats and now best known as leader of a jazz orientated big band, goes back to his rockabilly routes with Twenty Flight Rock.

But the highlight for me is (Remember) Walking In The Sand. The Shangri-Las hit begins with Beck’s bluesy guitar into, then May’s sultry vocals kick in before a blistering Beck solo brings it home.

Aficionados of old style rock and roll will love this CD, as will anyone who loves the electric guitar. And younger listeners will perhaps discover a whole new world of music. Its combination of great songs and excellent guitar playing is a fitting tribute to a musical legend.

And I think Les Paul would have been proud to hear what was played in his name.