Scene and Heard

Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck

The Louisville Palace was the center of the music universe last night as two time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member (Yardbirds in 1992 and Solo artist in 2009), Jeff Beck and his talented band covered the entire spectrum of the musical world in roughly 90 minutes.

  From the opening notes of “Plan B”, Beck demonstrated why he is rated 14th in Rolling Stone Magazines ”Top 100 All Time Guitarists”.  After this brilliant performance, its time to reevaluate the list. Jeff Beck is among the very top guitar players of all time.

 His musical style and humble attitude have kept him out of the spotlight of mainstream music, but there is no denying his mastery of guitar and his ability to dominate any style of music. 

 The show covers nearly every genre, blues-rock, jazz fusion, hard rock, electronica, progressive rock, and classical. Beck lets his guitar do most of the singing with an instrumental show fueled by his incredible band showcasing Rhonda Smith’s thundering bass , Jason Rebello’s keyboards and Nathan Michael Walden’s power driven drums.

  Smith’s vocals on Sly Stone’s, “ I Want to Take You Higher” and Walden’s singing on a classic version of “Little Wing” were about all the vocals needed as the high powered music machine led by Beck wizardry captivated the audience through out the performance.

 The “guitar players guitarist” left his mark on the nearly full venue. “Wow” was the common word used in conversation as fans filed out. It’s still early in 2011 but Jeff Beck just set the bar high and will be one of the best performances of he year.

Louisville Palace unofficial set list 

(some version of crossroads was played as I was coming in from putting my camera away)

1. Plan B
   

1. Stratus
   (Billy Cobham cover) 

1. Led Boots
   
2. Corpus Christi Carol
   
3. Hammerhead
   
4. Mna Na Eireann
   

1. People Get Ready
   (The Impressions cover) 

1. You Never Know
   
2. Rollin’ and Tumblin’
   (Muddy Waters cover) 
3. Big Block
   
4. Over the Rainbow
   (Judy Garland cover) 

1. Little Wing
   (Jimi Hendrix cover) 

1. Blue Wind
   
2. Dirty Mind
   
3. Brush with the Blues
   
4. A Day in the Life
   (The Beatles cover) 

1. Encore:

1. How High the Moon
   (Alfred Drake cover) 
2. I Want to Take You Higher
   (Sly & The Family Stone cover) 
3. Nessun Dorma 

4. 

   Jeff Beck