Jeff will be headlining the Tempe Music Festival, March 31st and April 1st....the festival will be the official serve as the official 60th diamond anniversary of Fender which is an obvious tie-in with the next bit of news. Don't know who will be performing with Jeff yet but when we do we'll pass it on. More informatin is available at www.tempemusicfetival.com and www.fender.com.
First off like out marquee states, Fender is getting Jeff Beck intensive. Their latest offering for the Custom shop,
a reproduction of Jeff's Yardbird's Esquire. They call it a 'Jeff Beck Relic Esquire', MSRP....$15,000 and
even at that price and the fact it is only been officially announced at the recent NAMM, I've heard all 150 are already
been sold although I can't confirm that. The package also includes a DVD interview with Jeff Here's a pdf of the specs;
jeffbeckesquire.pdf
And a picture;
Beck Tribute Esquire
Other recent news....nothing earth-shattering. Jeff signed another celebrity guitar, this one fetched $1.6 million
for Tsunami relief because it was also signed by Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards etc. and bought
at auction by the royal family of Qatar. The signing was put together by Bryan Adams.
EMI’s re-issue of Truth’ took the prize for ‘Re-issue of the Year’ at this year’s Classic Rock magazine Roll of Honour Awards which took place at London's Cafe De Paris.
The album was repackaged and re-released in May of this year, and features 8 bonus tracks.
Lastly, jeffbeck.com wants your pictures. For what we don't know yet. Jeff's official website is seeking photos of Jeff performing live over the past two years from anyone who got them in any manner. If you have something you want to send, email it to jeffbeck.com@btconnect.com. Don't send any fan mail, it won't get answered.
JEFF BECK - West Coast Tour Spring 2006
Jeff Beck, appearing with a stellar band and guest vocalist Beth Hart
Jeff Beck is undertaking a rare six date run in the southwest USA this spring. Last summer he was able to put the ensemble together for a tour of Japan and he has grabbed the chance to do it again for fans in America. He will be covering the entire spectrum of his illustrious career from The Yardbirds to the future and for the first time in many years will be accompanied by a guest vocalist, the very special Beth Hart.
Jeff Beck will be joined for these few exclusive dates by an absolutely stellar set of musicians -
Pino Palladino Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta Drums
Jason Rebello Keyboards
Beth Hart Vocals
Pino Palladino
Seen most recently as a member of the John Mayer Trio, undoubtedly the world’s foremost bass
player, he is equally at home on stage with The Who or Simon and Garfunkel and gracing the worlds
studios with the likes of D’Angelo, Elton John and Eric Clapton.
Vinnie Colaiuta
Another player from the very top of the business, Vinnie is first call when producers and artists
want the best. His list of credits is immense, a backbone for Sting for many years, like Pino he
crosses all boundaries from Faith Hill, to Jeff via The Pussycat Dolls and Megadeath!
Jason Rebello
Jason grew up as a keyboard prodigy, no less than Wayne Shorter produced his first album, but it
is probably his three albums and long touring stint with Sting that has brought him to the attention
of most people.
Beth Hart
All we can say is, when did Jeff Beck last share a stage with a vocalist?
Enough said, Beth is that good.
DATES: March 31st Tempe Music Festival / April 2nd Las Vegas, House Of Blues/ April 4th San Francisco Warfield / April 5th Los Angeles House Of Blues / April 6th San Diego 5th & B / April 7th Palm Desert McCallum Theatre
July 15 - Berlin - Zitadelle July 16 - Bonn - Museumsplatz July 17 - TBA July 18 - Tuttlingen - Honberg Sommer July 26 - Mainz - KUZ
Now add these Japanese dates to the mix....Jeff is supposedly headling two dates with Santana.
July 22, Izumiotsu Phenix, Osaka July 23, Fuji Speedway
You know I was just noticing this as I typed this up....Germany on the 18th, off to Japan for the 22nd and 23rd, back to Germany for the 26th, that's a pretty brutal schedule, take your vitamins Jeff!
We've since heard that a date in Holland and dates in U.K. are being worked on for Rotterdam, London, Birmingham and Liverpool. We've also been told that the information on the link we mentioned above is incorrect in that Pino Palladino will not be with Jeff this time out as he has already to committed to dates with The Who and no vocalist is planned so Jimmy Hall won't be along either.
We've gotten some cool promo pics for Tempe and the West Coast swing along with a note from the photographer, we'll be putting them in JBB #14 ASAP. And speaking of photos, we have been informed that "jeffbeck.com@btconnect.com" has recieved enough of the concert pics they asked for and aren't accepting anymore. However, please send us any pics and/or mini-tour reports from the upcoming dates in April and we will share them with everyone.
Someone sent us this link;
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/carmine_appice_i_would_consider_working_with_jeff_beck_again.html?200603060133
Which bears the title "I would still consider working with Jeff Beck". Interesting stuff.
Suzi Quatro who now lives in London and has a radio show on the BBC recently mentioned that Jeff will guest on one of her upcoming projects. Apparently she said Jeff will be playing guitar on her cover of The Eagles' "Desperado". Haven't heard any release info.
Oh and before we go, the next thing up is our additions to JBB #14. We've already mentioned the promo pics also we will have a bit on an 1989 Jan Hammer promo video featuring Jan, Jeff, Ringo Starr and David Gilmour. We got an interesting email from William Marcus about jam at the Marquee featuring Jeff and Gary Moore. And besides JBB #14, we will shortly have a new item on the page that will have all those rare Jeff Beck articles that were previously linked to another site and were pdf's. We've been graciously supplied with jpeg's and we'll put them up so you all have access to them.
First the set list which so far hasn't changed that we know of. (Thanks Steve)
Beck's Bolero Stratus You'll Never Know Cause We've Ended As Lovers You Shook Me (w/Beth Hart) Morning Dew Behind The Veil Two Rivers Star Cycle Big Block Nadia Angel/Footsteps Ain't Superstitious People Get Ready Scatterbrain Led Boots Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Brush With The Blues (1st Encore) Goin' Down (2nd Encore) Somewhere Over The RainbowHere's a nice review from the Hollywood Reporter....
Club setting energizes Jeff Beck's showmanship Thu Apr 6, 2006 7:23 PM ET By Erik Pedersen LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The most avid Jeff Beck fans will tell you they go to his concerts to hear him play rather than to watch. That makes sense, because he mostly shrugs at being a commanding showman, preferring to let his guitar do the interacting. But plunked into a club setting Wednesday at the House of Blues, Beck seemed energized by the tight quarters and his tight band. He peppered his playing with tricks and tossed in some honest-to-guitar- God antics, apparently enjoying himself as much as the colorful crowd enjoyed him. And if he has lost a step at 61, it wasn't obvious this night. Playing the fourth of six dates on a weeklong tour of the Southwest, Beck sauntered onstage, powdered up his hands and went straight to work. Using his 1968 classic "Beck's Bolero" as a warmup, he pinballed across his 40-year career, visiting every square inch of the guitar, mercilessly deploying the whammy bar and occasionally throwing both fists in the air as he let a note hang. Before long, heads were shaking throughout the hall -- either moving in time to the music or simply wordlessly saying "wow." Probably both. The biggest curveball, as far as Beck gigs go, was a guest vocalist: L.A.-based blues rocker Beth Hart, who shared the stage for about a half-dozen numbers. She strode onstage belting "You Shook Me" and immediately made some aggressive-suggestive moves on Beck. He backed away, but she kept coming at him, like some seductress with an agenda. Hart has an uninhibited charm and fiery, throaty vocal style, but her hair-tossing histrionics sometimes came just a rung or two from going over the top. Still, Beck appeared relieved to have someone else take the spotlight, and their back-and-forth was a pleasing sideshow -- especially during the encore of "Going Down," when Hart hit her knees to belt out the familiar chorus. Beck's versatility -- and his iconoclasm -- were most apparent midway through the 90-minute set during a four-song run. "Behind the Veil" was a foray into island riddim, complete with some goofy guitar trickery that charged the crowd. "Two Rivers" was laid-back melancholia, and "Star Cycle" had a prog-meets-'80s sound fueled by keyboardist Jason Rebello, who took advantage of his times in the spotlight. Rebello then rested for much of "Big Block," allowing for a satisfying power trio rock workout. All the while, hard-working Vinnie Colaiuta provided booming, sloppy-sure drums, seemingly following orders to fill at will. After four decades, Beck still has the ability to thrill. While unfailing technique is second nature to him, it was a pleasure to see Beck give just a bit extra on the showmanship side. The result was one of those nights that even a veteran concertgoer brags about seeing the next day. And the next. Reuters/Hollywood ReporterBeth Hart....if you're not familiar with her check out; www.bethhart.com.
Here are some pics we've gotten too...if we get enough stuff we'll move it all into a special feature on JBB#14 but for now here 'tis.
Here's another review from San Diego.....
By George Varga UNION-TRIBUNE POP MUSIC CRITIC April 8, 2006 Jeff Beck has an orchestra in his fingertips, as he demonstrated throughout his frequently spellbinding concert Thursday night at 4th & B. Like few others, this legendary English virtuoso achieves exceptional depth and dimension in his playing. Eloquent and electrifying, he makes his guitar sigh, moan, laugh, soar, dive, ring, squeal, shimmy and shake, but always in service of the song at hand (and almost always using only his fingers, rather than a pick). More impressive, he retains a singular level of musicality that doesn't sacrifice artistry for visceral impact, or subtlety for primal force, even though his music has plenty of power to spare. And he produces such a dazzling array of tonal colors and emotional shadings that he “sings” like a master, without ever opening his mouth. Beck is also that rare performer who can play with intensity and taste at the same time. This made his 91-minute set here an almost unqualified delight. His first San Diego club date in memory (and his first area appearance since a 1999 SDSU Open Air Theatre gig), the sold-out show found this youthful 61-year-old looking back at length at his storied past, something he had not done prior to his tour of Japan last year. The resulting musical retrospective touched upon many, though not all, phases of a career that first ignited when Beck replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds in 1965. His repertoire Thursday didn't stretch back quite that far, although he did open with “Beck's Bolero,” the B-side of his first solo single from early 1967. The selections that followed covered a nearly 40-year span yet complimented each other well. Highlights included charged renditions of such Beck favorites as “Led Boots” and “Blue Wind”; the proto-blues-metal of “You Shook Me”; a blazing version of the Billy Cobham fusion-jazz classic, “Stratus”; and the sublime balladry of Nitin Sawhey's “Nadia” and Curtis Mayfield's gospel-fueled “People Get Ready.” “People” was one of five selections that featured Beth Hart, the first female vocalist in any of Beck's many touring bands (San Diego guitar great Jennifer Batten worked with him in the late 1990s and beyond). While Hart sang with unmistakable enthusiasm, she tended to over-emote almost every lyric, belting line after line with no sense of the nuance her employer so adroitly brought to each number. On “Morning Dew,” she gamely tried to emulate the young Rod Stewart, while “Going Down” found her referencing early-'70s Beck band singer Bobby Tench. Hart never rose above overwrought mimicry, although Beck clearly enjoyed her energetic delivery and gyrating stage moves. Far better were bassist Pino Palladino (The Who, John Mayer) and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell), whose rock-solid grooves and improvisational savvy rank them as one of the best rhythm sections Beck has had. Keyboardist Jason Rebello (like Colaiuta, a veteran of Sting's backing group) is a skilled ensemble player, but his solos didn't ignite like Beck's. Then again, no keyboardist has been able to really hold his own on stage with the guitarist since synthesizer wiz Jan Hammer in the mid-1970s. Beck used a bottleneck on some songs, even playing it upside down during the rhapsodic “Angels (Footsteps).” His solos, all gems of emotion and technical ingenuity, showcased his pinpoint accuracy and masterful use of space and silence to build dynamic tension. He also showed just how fresh the blues can sound when performed with skill and daring. And his playfulness extended to the fan who jokingly thumbed his nose at the guitarist. Beck responded by holding up his middle finger. “I didn't mean that,” he told his adoring audience a moment later, but the impish grin on his face left no doubt that he did.For more tour reports and pictures go to our feature in JBB #14.
Here are the updated dates....
June 30th Montreaux Jazz Festival July 10th London - Tower of London July 11th Birmingham – NIA July 12th Liverpool – Summer Pops July 14th Rotterdam – North Sea Jazz July 15th Berlin – Zitadelle July 16th Bonn – Museumsplatz July 18th Tuttlingen – Zeltfestival July 22nd Yokohama - Fuji Intl. Speedway July 23rd Osaka - Izumiotsu Phoenix July 26th Lucerne – Blue Balls Festival
I think we mentioned this before but the line-up should still be Jason, Vinnie and Beth but we expect Pino will be out with The Who during this period.
Did you all see the 'Car Crazy' show with Jeff. First, he has more cars than we first realized and his new garage to hold them is awesome. The show was called 'Jeff Beck Part I' but we've to hear when Part II will air.
We stole the pic below from the Guitar Player website, oops did I just say that? We're kind of are borrowing it.
Of course this is the famous 'Oxblood' Les Paul he used in the 'Blow By Blow' days. Still can't get over how anyone can deal with those 'wrap around' bridges. Anyway it's in the June issue and weirdly enough I haven't seen it. I mean I haven't really gone out of my way but when I'm around a Borders or Walden Books or Barnes And Noble, I glance through the magazine section and it's weird but all the ones I've checked out don't carry Guitar Player.
Speaking of magazines we've got our new feature up, "Rare Jeff Beck Articles". It's a bunch of old magazine stuff that Ed Chapero dug up for us. We used to have a link to them in pdf format but the link went dead so now we have them in our own section. Enjoy.
According to the Car Crazy website, they'll be re-airing Jeff Beck Part I on Thurday, June 29th. Everyone is still wondering about when Part II will air. We assume there is a 'Part II', otherwise what's the sense of a 'Part I'.
We recently got a hold of Genya Ravan from 'Goldie And The Gingerbreads', who were probably the first if not the first all woman rock group out there. Below is a photo of Genya with Jeff during the Yardbird days.
In her book "Lollipop Lounge" she has a section about Jeff and she told us, "He was and I hope still is, one of the nicest, sweetest, intense guys and you can quote me." And funny that Jeff will soon be touring with Buddy Guy, "I also turned him on to Buddy Guy who he flipped over. I gave him an American record of Buddy." Check out www.genyaravan.com for more info.
Be seeing you.....