This album is another perfect example of first class European jazz.




Personnel:
Paolo Fresu (trumpet)
Heiri Känzig (bass)
Thierry Lang (piano)
Andy Scherrer (saxophone)
Peter Schmidlin (drums)

Tracklist:
01. Choral (Lang) 6.55
02. Les Petits Yeux (Lang) 4.11
03. Un Petit Bleu (Lang) 3.40
04. Tender Awakening (Lang) 5.43
05. Tango de Rio (Lang) 5.24
06. One For Foutch (Lang) 5.28
07. Vendredi 18 (Lang) 6.10
08. Montmartre (Lang) 5.25
09. Bambou (Lang) 3.24

ARMU 0072

Whilst Carl Palmer´s live band is now sporting a new young guitarist (sorry don't know his name), due to Steve Baxter (who plays on this album) suffering from severe tinnitus following a car crash, their styles and skills are very similar and at first I couldn't believe that the guy playing on Working Live Vol 1 wasn't the one I saw in concert.

All of the tracks will be well known to ELP fans, but you will never have heard them like this before. Barbarian opens the album and sets the scene for what is to come; oh-so-heavy brooding and intricate bass from the greatly talented Dave Marks, coupled with blistering guitar from Steve Baxter and, of course, pounding, weaving mesmerising percussion from the master himself. Enemy God from "Works" is an even greater vehicle for Carl to display his mighty skills. LA Nights, which ELP fans will remember featuring Joe Walsh on "Works" has a slightly more jazzy/bluesy feel and contrasts nicely with the more gothic material here (and also has an almost miraculous guitar outro), whereas the seminal Tank is supremely evocative. Bullfrog is, for me, perhaps the only slightly disappointing track, as it comes over as less tight and more discordant than the rest and with no particularly enjoyable melody. It does, however have some scorchingly fast guitar work to redeem it. Then we have the album's highlights; Ginastera's Tocatta from the classic "Brain Salad Surgery" album is nothing short of a masterpiece here. This eerie and magnificent piece has never sounded better. Then Canario (probably the only good thing from the disappointing "Love Beach" album) gives the axeman par excellence a chance to display his ample skills and will have you agog with awe. Carl then rounds the album off with the drum solo to end all solos.

Throughout this set, the musicianship is stunning - rarely will you find three musicians working so hard - each masters of their own art, but also coming together to create something far greater than the sum of its parts.

This music is heavy enough, grungy enough, gothic enough and above all, inventive enough to appeal to far more than just ELP fans, so buy this truly great live album now and play it LOUD! Also, do try to catch the band live. I guarantee you won't be disappointed! (by Cartimand)