This was an incrdible concert!
And the resulting CD’s are incredible. The tune I’m okay is almost unbearable to listen to, knowing than Stan was not okay at the time of recording.
All Music review; “Stan Getz’s final recording, a two-CD live set of duets with pianist Kenny Barron that was cut just three months before his death, finds the great tenor in surprisingly creative form despite an occasional shortness of breath. Getz’s tone is as beautiful as ever and he does not spare himself on this often exquisite set. His version of Charlie Haden’s “First Song” is a highlight but none of the 14 performances are less than great. A brilliant farewell recording by a masterful jazzman.”
What is also amazing is that if you look at the complete 7-disc set with all 7 sets from the gigs, how little repetitive material there is. Getz was indeed suffering greatly during these gigs, and was admonished by a few to stop, but he insisted on playing, although on the last night, they only played the first set, because he was in too much pain from his liver cancer to go on.
It’s 1965 I’m 16 years of age and my favourite band are The Animals, my favourite all time singer is Dylan, but that’s another story.
Some friends and I decide to go to the 5th Annual Richmond Jazz and Blues festival where Eric Burdon and the boys will headline on the Sunday evening. A couple of the older guys buy a car between them and we set of from deepest darkest Surrey bound for Richmond. The car uses more water than petrol and many stops are made along the way to refill the radiator…it’s a very old car.
The bill for the Sunday is, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds, The Spencer Davis Group (with a 17 year old Stevie Winwood) , Chris Barber, The Steam Packet (Rod Stewart, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and Long John Baldry) and of course The Animals.
It was a wonderful day out and I fondly remember standing on the seats right down the front clapping and cheering.
Some of the festival was filmed by the US TV show Shindig as “Shindig Goes To London” and there is some footage on You Tube, including this very recent addition in colour, not sure if it’s been colourised or if it’s genuine, stay the course for the all star jam session near the end, here’s the link, hope it’s OK to post this, if not please remove and if interested search for “Shindig Goes To London”:
This really belongs to What’s the best concert of a lifetime that you missed.
The Isle of Wight, 1970 I’ve just celebrated my 16th birthday and am at a Scout camp a couple of miles from Freshwater. In the distance I can hear wonderful music and the place is crawling with hairy people and exotic smells.
On Sunday we have a free day so I get the bus to Freshwater and follow the crowd. I hang about outside the fence, but get cold feet and eventually get the bus back after hearing much, but seeing nothing.
In terms of the most enjoyable and where I had the most fun then for me three stand out.
Alex Harvey in 1976 in London was just great fun a real blast with a few mates.
Hawkwind in Bristol at what was then called Colston Hall I forget the year. Although I remember it more for the long blonde haired girl I met there after her energetic head swinging whipped my face with her wet hair.
The Police at Oxford Apollo again I forget the year but early days for them.
Rolling Stones (Genoa 1967 with Brian Jones, my first concert ever)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Genoa 1972)
Paul McCartney & Wings (Venice, piazza San Marco, 1976)
Pink Floyd (Turin, 1994)
Eric Clapton - Birmingham NEC 1998. My life long musical hero, first time seen live. Memorable for that & good sound, 8.5/9 out of 10.
Elton John - Birmingham NEC 2003. Not his biggest fan, wife insisted I take her. Three hour concert, way better than expected & 10 out of 10 for sound.
Eagles - Birmingham National Indoor Arena 2006 (I think). Long-time fan. They didn’t disappoint. Nearly as long as EJ & sound just as good.
Genesis - Maddison Square Garden, 2007. Lucky to be on holiday in New York (from UK) at same time as Genesis. Obviously the venue added to the occasion for me but also a great concert with excellent sound, 9 out of 10.
Fortunately more good performances to remember over the years than one or two stinkers referred to on other threads!
Elton John in Moscow 5-7 years ago. The guy rocked on the stage with no break for 3 hours straight. All the hits, some new songs. The energy was just unbelievable (I still weekly listen to his The rocket hour podcast on Apple Music - my gateway to new and old music discovery)
Adele in Barcelona - we went there for a Coldplay concert and Adele was just something to spend Saturday night at but turned out to be the most memorable impression: the music, the rain, the atmosphere - Colplay was completely eclipsed by it
Other worthy mentions are Alt-J (great energy, Cd-like performance); Rammstein for wild energy and fire show; Bon Jovi for being he first CD that my father bought me and we went there together with him and had a lot of fun
We saw Bon Jovis first ever UK gig. Support band for KISS in (I think 85 ). About 800 people saw them. No one had heard of them but everyone said the same thing. “Wow. They’ll be huge”. A great live band
