Search - Jack Bruce :: Spirit: Live at the BBC 1971-1978

Progressive and inventive

Bodhi Heeren | Copenhagen | 04/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
This great box-set contains four concerts with Jack, who must be considered one of the true legends of modern music. A revolutionary pioneer on electric bass, a highly accomplished vocalist, a gifted and very diverse composer. A multitalent spanning so many genres: rock, blues, jazz, avant-garde.



Two of the shows have been released already. The 1971 with Chris Spedding, Graham Bond and John Marshall, and the 1975 presenting one of his hottest bands ever featuring Mick Taylor and Carla Bley. But here in a superior soundquality. We also get a performance from his 1977 outfit with a young Simon Philips, already then a formidable drummer.The interplay between him and Jack's fretless bass-magic certainly more than makes up for the rather inadequate guitarwork of Hughie Burns.



Neither of these shows might be Jack at his absolute best. Being a spontanous and erratic performer, he's rarely at his finest in this more formal settings. But there's plenty to enjoy. Some fine versions of the marvelous songs from his first three solo-albums, some rearranged Cream-classics and from time to time inspired and transcendent moments of pure music.



Spread over the three discs we also get some fine jazzy moments with Jack in the fine company of Jon Hiseman and saxlegend John Surman.



As with all from the bassmaestro, the mastermind behind Cream, this is essential stuff for all lovers of true progressive and inventive music."

Great retrospecion with refried music

Grzegorz Szymczak | poland | 04/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"2 out of 3 cds were previously released - 1971 with Graham Bond and 1975 with Mick Taylor except for 1 song without a word. 3rd cd is a real treat with live from 1977. Each cd contains additions from jazz session with supreme john surman and colosseum drummer jon hiseman, however without any spectaluar succeess except for 1st cd bonus. Recommended. Hope more is to come from unopen vaults of 80s90s sessions. Jack Bruce dvd from 60th birthday's session is highly expected."

Great jazz, OK rock

Brit Bunkley | New Zealand | 05/31/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD set of the brilliant musician Jack Bruce's BBC work is for completeists only. Actually I am pretty much of a completist when it comes to Jack Bruce...and I only say this reservation. Bruce has made many brilliant albums for more than 40 years; he has contributed to many others. However, this is a mixed bag at best. It contains 3 concerts live at the BBC. The first concert is the best with some great songs from his early solo period. The second CD is mostly in mono with an inferior band to the first CD playing songs from his second 2 solo albums. The final CD is from 1977 - probably the weakest period of his lengthy career, a period that many regarded as a failed pot shot at 70's pub pop.



Nevertheless Jack Bruce's parallel career as a jazz musician is tacked on the end of these three CDs. As a whole they are fantastic. The amazing John Surman is on saxophone and in great form; John Hiseman plays dazzling drums. If only these sessions could be released as a separate CD...

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