I think one of the most impressive things Jeff Beck is that he has never stayed stuck. Too many of his contemporaries are still essentially playing what they did 40 years ago. Jeff keeps moving forward and trying new things. He's an inspiration.
For sure. Reminds of Dusty Hill (bassist of ZZ TOP) saying in an interview "You can either try new things, or your forever stuck playing "Shuffle in C"."
Yessir. Great comment. I think I saw Beck open for Santana. Amazing. Jeff was outstanding. Carlos was a lil boring. My friend fell asleep during Santana.
A lot of veteran musicians exclusively perform with other old veterans. This makes sense in that as we get older, we often value those who share memories and life experience. But Beck and David Bowie in particular figured out that new, often younger collaborator's can be a real jolt to creativity. It's not the only way to do it - getting musicians from different musical cultures comes to mind - but with them it worked.
I saw Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughn on the same bill. Sorry but there was no comparison. Jeff Beck makes you hang on every note he plays. It never gets old because he’s always improvising.
I used to watch a few songs of this before jamming with some friends in high school, it would always give us some intense inspiration. edit: also Jason Rebello on keys!!
Check out his concert in Atlanta with Jennifer Batten, following up the release of the album she was on with him, incredible, it's on RU-vid, or was. Look for it, I have it on. DVD from Amazon, a gift to myself that keeps on giving.
I am also convinced. The man even bore a resemblance to what you think in your mind is what a rock guitarist would/should look like. Just too many clues . . . catching a rare disease all of a sudden and just dies like that at 78 (?) Possible I guess.
Beck may be the only person I've ever seen who can play two lines simultaneously while swelling on the volume knob and bending the vibrato arm at the same time... all with his right hand... and make it all sound melodious and purposeful. No one can every copy that.
Because it's so weird that nobody wants to copy it. He's a talented guitarist, I'm just not a fan. There are plenty of guitarists I'd listen to before him. He just doesn't do anything for me.
I always feel bad for Jason Rebello whenever this "Live at Ronnie Scotts" album and video are discussed. He is the keyboard player at this gig, but almost never gets mentioned. You can imagine how good you must have to be to warrant sharing a stage with Jeff Beck, and to have him pick you for his band! Vinny and Tal are always mentioned, so I'm going to give Jason his due. Bravo to all of these amazing players.
@@simes205 Yes, Clapton comes on near the end to play some blues with Jeff. I believe you are also correct about Jimmy Page being present. You see him sitting in the back and he often has a look of wonder on his face while witnessing some of the things Jeff is doing
As it happens, I worked with Jason years ago as a session player. We all knew he was something special, and ridiculously gifted - so make no mistake, everyone who matters knows his worth!
We're so lucky Rick Beato is out there talking with these greats. You never know when they're gone. If it weren't for Beato we just wouldn't have had this. It is such a service to keeping the history of music alive.
l was amazed by him .I loved his various feelings he got across aggression humor sometimes and those ia.mthe best riffs that he would play like a gentleman .His guitar playing sang for him and did the talking . I dont even feel talented enough to comment on his playing but I always loved his playing from Blow by blow . when I throw on vinyl I always play that album for some reason .I think it's just music good enough to sit and just crank and listen too.1of1
My favorite living guitarist. Have seen him live 5 times at various venues and he's never disappointed. Rick B is correct he is unique. Eric Clapton described him once as "pulling the sound". Aside from his uniqueness, articulation, deft touch, etc one of the other things that separates him is the ability to take musical risks. He reminds me a lot of David Bowie in that way. Never been "stuck" in a time warp or genre. Abandoning a "greatest hits" mantra and leaving his comfort zone by trying new things. Many of his contemporaries play now and although legends I find myself yawning as they exclusively relive past hits and glory. JB at nearly 80 makes MY hair stand up and I'm bald!
Jeff is indeed a genius, he was actually giving Tal credit at the end for an amazing bass solo she performed in the same song, also worth a look. He was so proud of her performance!, magnanimous as always.
She is an amazing bassist, and deserves every bit of it. He didn't hire her for what she could become, but already was, and Jeff has always shown appreciation for everyone sharing the stage with him. I hate it when a musician is the only one on stage or ever in the light, never announced or credited... as if they are the only one that counts or has any talent! Of course that is more of a pop thing, and well they are also the ones who have the least brains in the audience too.
@@mattosborne1366 Yup. She almost stole the show with that. What I mean is, the whole band played together so well and were having so much fun. But you hear jeff's solo and think nothing can top that, then comes Tal, then comes Jeff again...
That "Because We've Ended As Lovers" performance includes an amazing bass solo by Tal Wilkenfeld, which explains Jeff's gesturing to her as the song ends. Later the group covers "A Day In The Life" and Tal plays a lick to which Beck responds "F*** YEAH!". Oh and she was 20 when this show took place.
One of my Jeff Beck stories goes like this. I have played music for as long as I can remember and have written music for bands for a long time. I was at a point of total frustration with the music world and decided to hang it out. I was done. The one problem with that thought process, was that I had tickets to see Jeff Beck that very night. He is such an inspiration and musical genius that before the end of the first song, he convinced me to keep playing and writing music. He is a saint of talent. Thank you.
Jeff Beck really is in his own category. He is constantly evolving, never staying stuck in one spot. He could have very easily just been a nostalgia act, replaying all of his 60s work note for note, but instead he is constantly searching for new sounds and new styles. Incredible guitar player!
This is the most beautiful obituary for a person and musician who, at the time the video was recorded, was thought to remain with us for a long time. One asks why the good people have to go and all the terrible people who bring misery to the world are allowed to live on. Jeff you gave us so many chills moments rest in peace guitar god.
I'm 70 and been playing a strat with bands since age 15. Hearing Rick talk with such passion about Beck, is like a little brother bubbling over with enthusiasm for an elder brother. Love it all! I'm grinning with joy, watching this video.
It’s like Jeff had an encyclopedia of riffs that he could pull out instantly. Lots of guitarists have a huge trove of riffs they can call in, but Jeff’s genius was that it was as though he had the encyclopedia, but played it in a different language every time. The most original voice ever
Jeff’s precision and control with the whammy bar is other worldly. Pretty much everybody else uses to it to create a single tonal alteration to a note or a chord but in Jeff’s hand it extends to a flourish of continuous intricate nuances and inflections. Simply incredible.
As I was saying to a fellow Jeff Beck fan, he may not be the best when it comes to using a slide, but his precision with it when he does use it, is untouchable. I feel the same when he uses the whammy bar.
I agree with you. I saw Jeff Beck twice live, and what he did blew me away. Also, I was fortunate enough to meet him, and I got his setlist signed. Cheers!
Beautiful tribute to Jeff Beck here Rick. I know this was made while he was still alive but its really quite fitting now that he's gone. We will never see another guitarist like Jeff Beck, he was a one off, just like the great Jimi Hendrix. "Uncopyable" indeed!
I heard a story where two local guitar players were working set up at a venue, when Jeff Beck was gonna play. They’re were so excited, because now they were going to get to see what special gear Jeff used to get his sound. They would finally know all the secrets. When they showed up to set up his gear, they found out he was using a locally rented amp and guitar. That’s it. Then they understood that to sound like Jeff Beck, you have to be Jeff Beck. lol 😂
Truly one of one. I'm truly sad he died. I'm never sad when people die unless I know them. But this one hits hard. RIP dear brother. Thank you for the the thousands of hours of joy your music gave to me and mine. Much love old brother. See you soon!
The whole Blow By Blow and Live at Ronnie Scott’s performances are nothing short of incredible he’s always been the guitarist I’d vote for as the best ever
Honestly Rick, your reactions are both comical (in a good way) but also entirely accurate. When you jump and jolt at certain sounds I chuckle but also entirely relate. Another great vid 👍
I have seen him many times. He is beyond phenomenal. I play and teach guitar. I have had front row seats and I still don't know what he did. This is the kind of playing that makes him a living guitar legend. No other guitarist is even close.
I'm afraid we've lost someone we will never be able to replace. Miles above anyone I can think of. So long Jeff. Thx so much for the multitudes of creativity!!! Music critics of the future will still wonder how he made those incredible sounds. From the Yardbirds to his work with Rod Stewart and his solo career. What can you say? Genius at the very least. Thx Jeff, for all of it. ❤️❤️❤️
The degree of expression in every single note is what has always impressed me with Beck. Within any given phrase it almost sounds like seven different guitars or seven different takes have been edited together, but it's just him. Beautiful playing.
I'm 53 years young and a bass player. I've been an avid music fan since, well I can't actually remember not loving music in all it's forms. But there are a handful, and I mean about 10 or so, pieces of melody / music that can actually make me cry and Jeff Becks "Cause we've ended as lovers" is one. I can't describe how it makes me feel and I can't describe why it makes me cry - it just does. And that's what I love about it - it's just beyond description as to what it does. Nobody should have the right to make someone feel like he does through music, but he does and he's among the very few who can.
Well sir. You asked for personal stories.....here's a couple. My wife had a pretty a pretty limited amount of music background. No "Rock" concerts, and only knew what was on the radio, and whatever her brothers played on the record player (dating our age) at home. Unlike me, who "grew up" in L.A. and was going to concerts fairly consistently. She knew a few Led Zepplin songs< and The Stones, Beatles, Beach Boys and so on. I, and my brother owned a rather massive record collection, and wore a few records out, One evening...I started up a playlist (the digital age has made things easier) for some "after" music. I started with "Because we ended as Lovers". In the First few bars, she shot up< and asked me "what in the world is that??? What is he playing?" I told her, and she had a "How, what, huh? look on her face. So I went back to the computer, and found the concert "Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's". I tried to explain what he was doing with the volume pot, and wammy bar. She was absolutely hooked. Jump up a couple of years, and she tells me Jeff Beck is opening for ZZ Top ( saw them with her in Fresno) at The Greek. "I'm getting us tickets"! Jeff played a great set, and came out for ZZ Top's encore. Billy kept passing of the solos to Jeff, And Jeff kept trying to pass them back to Billy. Billy had a look on his face of pure JOY! I'm playing rhythm for JEFF BECK!!! A couple of months ago she informed me, That Jeff is playing at the Orpheum, in L.A. I got us tickets. Threaten me with a good time! Side note When we we living in Boston, we went to Tal's show at Brighton Music Hall. Talked to her after the show. Very nice girl.
Blow by blow was one of the first albums I ever bought almost 50 years ago. "Cause we've ended as lovers" still has that haunting quality and brings back memories of late night listening. Truly a unique talent.
A lot of players can do "how did they do that?!" licks but Jeff is the only dude in history that constantly played "WHAT. THE . F*CK. WAS. THAT???!!!" licks. Saw him twice live and left the theaters both times shaking my head in disbelief. RIP the GOAT.
Yup. What he did with the guitar was, for all practical purposes, impossible. I first saw him in '68 & he had a different personality (he seemed like a cocky showoff, also edgy), but he was already supremely talented. You could tell he'd spent well over the "10,000 hours" working on his craft at that early age, the guitar was already an extension of him. He never stopped learning, never played it safe, he was a once in a lifetime artist. And his fellow guitarists all knew it. Oh well, we still have his recordings.....
@@schliesthefirst197 Jeff Beck was an excellent technician, but he didn't have a lot of creativity or expression. Clapton and Hendrix are my goats. I like Jeff Beck, he is pretty far down that list.
@@steveborst5386 That's why they have horse races, I suppose. Clapton, for my money, fossilized about 40 years, stopped growing, stopped learning, just played it safe doing the same thing over & over, one thing Jeff never did. I had the Bluesbreakers "Beano" LP when Eric was in the group, but I don't think he was even as good as Peter Green. Jimi, I loved him too, often wonder "what else" he might've done. Same wiyh SRV. But Jeff was, and will remain, my goat.
Loved watching your reactions to his playing. Just appreciating the little details that made him so incredible. I just stare in utter amazement at how he could get those sounds out of a guitar!
Great video! I have a deeper appreciation for Jeff Beck after watching this, driven by your point that he never plays a bad note. As a person that puts high value on spontaneous improv, watching how clean he pulled his vocal lead lines off was mind blowing.
Always loved this from Steve Vai after he saw Jeff in concert. Steve Vai’s words. "The other night I went to see Jeff Beck perform. I try to catch him whenever we are in the same town. The band was just astonishing, and I was able to hook up with my old buddy Vinnie Colaiuta (from my Zappa days) which was really nice since we seemed to have missed each other through the decades. As usual, Jeff was spellbinding, quite stunning really. For myself, and many others, he is an incredible phenomenon. It was an outdoor concert and the sound from the PA was flawless and pristine. His tone, a Strat directly into a few amps with the occasional rare distortion or delay added for a few notes, was as clear and friendly as any tone I ever heard. Every single note he plays has its own personality. It’s as if they have a direct line to your emotional equilibrium. He is unique, in the most superlative use of the word. I found an analogy. The other night I was watching Blue Planet II, The Deep. There was this fish that is called 'Barrel Eyes' that was a real shocker. It has a see-through skull with a pair of eyes inside of its head that can look out through its head. You would have to see this thing to believe something like it exists on the planet. It’s a complete confounding mystery how evolution could create such a creature. When looking at it I was in a state of stunned amazement and awe. How on earth could something so unique and sophisticated exist? And that’s when it hit me, that’s what I feel about Jeff Beck’s guitar playing. How is it that he could continually evolve into deeper and deeper layers of intimate expression? His touch, mastery and craftsmanship is inspiring beyond beyond. Thomas Nordegg and I refer to him as The Chosen One, but perhaps another way to describe him is The One, Alone. I can’t be more grateful to the Universe for the way this man can express himself through the guitar. If you are a guitar lover, I highly recommend checking Jeff out with his current line-up, or any line-up."
Even tho I'm not a Steve Vai fan, these words are as spot-on as it gets! It's as if Jeff's stratocaster is an extension of his body, not only physically, but metaphysically! And he uses that instrument to express his thoughts, his emotions... his SOUL!
His hands were strong 💪 from being a mechanic, out his workshop. And his musical passion was on par with his passion for vintage Hot Rods. A huge fan most of my life. So sad but glad he gave his talent to the world R.I.P. A man like no other JT: Orlando FLA
Rick, your sighs and Aaaahs when he hits emotional tones, remind me so much of my dad. 🥲Lost him last year. He would react EXACTLY the same way, and had the same sensitive reactions to beautiful music. LOL Brought a happy tear to my eye, together with the stunning music. This is an amazing analysis of a true genius. I also feel the almost classical thumb rest-stroke he uses in the RH, is at least partially responsible for the tonal phrasing, quality, sweetness and variety. The pick is an intermediary that ultimately breaks the direct connection between flesh and string, leading to louder more uniform playing vs the subtle entropy of tones available to the finger player. peace🙏
The wave of British Blues and Rock guitarists that began in the 60s are something that is once in a lifetime in my humble opinion. Inspirations coming from left and right, and Jeff Beck is absolutely no exception! Timeless
Nobody dares to state the obvious reason was that they were listening to the original blues guitarists from a country that was still segregated. That's why a whole generation of English kids became a channel of inspiration.
@@cliffhughes6010 Mick Taylor is one of the most underrated and yet had the better technique than those you listed. Definitely the best slide guitar player next to Duane Allman ( especially live ).
@@RobinFyfe Agreed - Zeppelin's colonial song credits, etc. Yet Revolver, Graceland, Buena Vista Social Club mark a progression toward cultural appreciation.
Same here, just a couple of notes and I'm welling up. His playing goes straight to your very soul. During the Ronnie Scott gig there was a point where Tal was just shaking her head and laughing in amazement as to what Jeff was doing. I keep saying if God could play guitar he would sound like Jeff or at least get some lessons from him. There is an old adage that you don't play the instrument you play and serve the song
'guitar shop', mick jagger's 'primitive cool' and jon bon jovi's 'blaze of glory' got me into beck. effortlessly cool and beautiful playing. always reminded me of a classic sportscar.
I saw Jeff during the Blow by Blow tour. He was as cool as a Cucumber but played with incredible intensity and emotion but looked like it was just another gig. I was mesmerized. His lyricism and phrasing are immaculate. Tone always pushing boundaries for the ear to enjoy. He doesn't need a singer in his band. He sings through the guitar. Rock on Jeff.
Saw Jeff Beck live at Wolf Trap here in northern VA a couple years back. He is the master at using the whammy bar and the volume control on a fender strat. Amazing and talented musician and definitely a rock legend. 🙌🏻
I’ve seen him 5 or 6 times .. and was lucky enough to meet him briefly too. Always next level musicianship, and just when he goes for something unpredictable, where a mere mortal might potentially crash & burn, Jeff lands something out of this world that takes your breath away .. again! Such a gracious performer who shows respect and props to each of his amazing band members too.
Jeff Beck God only made one and he’s left us now but he filled my heart with a lot of joy been listening for about 45 or 50 years. No one no one will ever be able to play like Jeff, and it makes me smile to see how excited you get when you watch him and listen to him amazing I feel the same way.
His death hits me harder than all the other recent ones because he was still so on top of his game. Was looking forward to the next album and the next tour.
I feel the same way. I couldn’t understand it. He was in great shape. I thought about it and realized he wasn’t doing large venues. He had to travel like the rest of us. Flying from city to city commercially is tough on a 78 year old.
Jeff actually talks through his guitar. Sometimes he screams, yells.. but it's always words coming out of his pickups... I 've heard him for the very first time in 1972, and I was only 10, while my elder brother was listening to his music. I never ever stopped loving his tunes. For me he's the absolute master of phrasing...
Rick, I've seen Jeff at least six times in my life but that spanned nearly 50 years. Best time was in the 80s (after Wired) at Concord Pavillion in Northern California. It was an amphitheater, and the front row of seats was at the level of the stage. I was back away from the stage and kept watching and noticed a short set of empty seats in the front row, pretty close to the middle. I waited for the right moment and confidently walked past the ushers and sat down in one of those seats. I got to watch Jeff play from 10-15 feet away, for an hour & a half, mesmerized by the diversity & wildly creative skillset that this man possessed. No one ever made me move. Miracles do happen. The Best!
Watching Jeff Beck play slide guitar on “Poor Boy” at the Les Paul tribute concert is an eye- and ear-opening event. He’s an absolutely master of the slide and it sounds so different than other slide practitioners. Long may you run, Jeff.
He is like a radio tuned in some kind of frequency that we don´t have access. Only through his hands we can hear that notes. Guys like him make me remember that in this crazy world exist something more beyond matter. It´s a waterfall of inspiration!
To me, that concert at Ronnie Scott's is one of the best live concert ever,!I hold it very closely in my heart and I could watch it over and over again and still be mesmerized by it.
The A.R.M.S. Benefit show from 1983 was even better than Ronnie Scott's. This was the same show where Page crapped out entirely, on "Stairway to Heaven", no less.
Fantastic video, Rick. I can't hold back the tears when Jeff plays. and there's one aspect you didn't cover here: Jeff's complete, total mastery over his equipment. NEVER has any other guitarist integrated his equipment so organically into his music style and expression. It's absolute genius.
@@furyofbongos Hey methinks Zappa has got horrible tone, he sounds like a synth.. the absolute antithesis to Beck. I do love the musical contribution by Zappa though.
Yes. He plays incredibly loud through Marshalls, but is always manipulating the volume with his freakin hand its insane, not to mention the whammy. You have to realize that the slightest wrong note through that kind of volume will stick out like no other, but Jeff simply doesn't hit wrong notes
@@sergelaporte4295 o c'mon, Zappa utilizes an astonishingly varied timbral range & is highly comparable to Beck in manymany ways, not least in terms of (let's call it) "turgid emotional flow". for some aural fun, compare Frank's "Zoot Allures" (the version from the album of the same name) with Jeff's "Definitely Maybe" (From "the orange album"). 2 more critical pieces of Frank's would be "Sleep Dirt" (to underline "varied timbral range") & "St.Etienne" (to underline "turgid emotional flow"). Beck & Zappa have lots in common (besides Vinnie Colaiuta & being the only 2 guitarists to make water squeeze outta my eyes, too...
"Thought is the enemy of flow", so true!!! The amount of emotion one can generate from their instrument is a large part of a players credibility, along with their virtuosity. LOVE BECK! Great job Rick. FREE
There's no words that are remotely adequate to describe Jeff Beck's utterly masterful skill, touch, tone, craft, & sheer vibrancy. He has a connection with a guitar like no other player and is head and shoulders simply the best Strat player I've ever heard, has ever been and I suspect ever will be....his skill is just on another planet. As Rick so rightly says, he's just un-copyable.
He's uncopyable because no one can turn chaos into a beautiful creation. His style of playing is VERY expressive and constantly bordelines playing bad notes but he never does. It's like hearing screeching tires behind you at ever stop light but never the dull crash of metal.
I agree completely with this---Jeff is so focused and intentional with his choices, never just playing filler. The "uncopyable" aspect of Jeff's playing also reminds me of John Abercrombie, who was so good at playing notes you didn't expect in different orders than you'd think, and finding spaces in the music to insert them that you didn't hear were there, kind of like the anti-matter of music.
You gave me a new and deeper appreciation for him. Really just a completely unique and total command of the instrument as well as being a totally singular artist.
Jeff Beck and Pat Metheny are my two most played artists over the past 45 years. I never realized that "the FLOW" was the common element among them. Thank you so much for pointing this out and solving, at least for me, the age old puzzle as to why these two legends of guitar have been my all time favs.
With Vinnie playing my god. I have heard this original, live in 2000, but this version is my favorite. The entire concert is the best I have seen him play in a setting that really brings out the best in the whole performance. It’s a much smaller venue than most of us will ever have the luxury of hearing him play. The way everything is setup it’s easier to pick up on the nuance than seeing him in a typical concert hall or arena. Even the cameras seem much closer to the performers as well.
Jeff Beck was my introduction to the magic of guitar , probably with the yardbirds many,many years ago. “ The Jeff Beck group “ album was blasted through my headphones literally thousands of times, every damned night for 3-4 years. Obsessed is probably the best way to describe it.
Jeff is by far the most expressive guitarist living, he pulls tones out of that Strat that no one else can. His work on the Roger Waters track What God Wants is nothing short of absolutely incredible.
@@ShimaKiyoshi That was Jeff messing around in the studio--it was _not_ intended to be part of the album. Roger Waters listened to the session on tape in his car and decided to make Jeff's throwaway sonic musings the lead track to his best album.... Makes one wonder what other sonic tapestries Jeff has woven that we've yet to hear...
Got to see him when touring Santana. They would take turns taking the stage first in cities they performed in. It was in Memphis at mud Island amphitheater and it was Becks turn to go on stage first. I have never seen so many people pinching themselves watching Beck play. People were literally picking their jaws up off the floor. Santana came on second and it was good and all but after watching Beck it was like I've been to the mountain top, I've seen it all now. About halfway into Santanas set my bunch and a lot of other people said " OK, guess I'm gonna head out, don't get me wrong, Santana is a great guitarist and everything but Jeff Beck is in a league all his own. Still wondering how he made those sounds with his guitar
After all those years doing his own thing like he use to, on a very high level. It's amazing. Much respect for a legend like that. Can't praise the man enough. I Thank you
I started following Jeff's career when I was only 15 and that was in 1966, saw him this year (2022), one of the several times I have been lucky to see him.and appreciate just what a genius he is. For me he is the number 1 and always will be.
Brings back memories "Cause We Ended as Lovers" when i would chill with a couple hits and zone. Theres a part in this song where it sounds like my mom calling me. I would always take my headphones off to see if she was or not.
The way I describe Jeff is watching other greats, you have an idea where they're going, with Jeff , you don't. Always some crazy direction you'd never expect, always exciting as heck. Uncopyable, unmatchable, unbelievable. One of the only musicians I will truly mourn.
Yes, you are completely right. Never played the same phrase the same twice. Never played a bum note, (or if he did, he would make it right, ) awesome sounds he could conjure, to make you gasp, laugh, wonder, and cry. Will be sorely missed. Rip X
Jeff is certainly one of my greatest guitar influences and earliest inspiration to play guitar and is always getting better. His playing has a most unique " In Your Face Subtlety" and adventurous beauty that stands alone in the guitar world...thank you Jeff and you as well Rick! 🌎 🎸❤
Jeff has so much taste in his phrasing which makes him probably my favorite solo guitar artist. Btw, this show is live at Ronnie Scotts if your a fan its his finest live playing ive ever heard. Pleass go check it out. My favorite of that show is Angel Footsteps....mind blowing!!
Jeff was the master of the guitar. He could do it all. The greatest ever to play He was like Bach. Irreplaceable. What an amazing talent and even more amazing talent. Jeff...we got to enjoy you for just a moment...you touched our souls and enchanted us....God's speed, rest in peace
I've seen Jeff twice. At the Royal Albert Hall and at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. As a guitarist of some 53 years I am completely blown away by Jeff. As you say RIck, it's almost impossible to work out what he's doing .. and he's IMPROVISING!! .. For me he is the ultimate guitarist.
I went to see Jeff when he came through Sacramento on The Fire Meets the Fury Tour in '89. People where all excited about seeing Stevie Ray Vaughn like he was something big. I had never heard of Stevie, I was there to see Jeff. When Stevie finished his set, people were screaming and going crazy. Then, Jeff came out and did his set. When he was finished it was almost quiet. People were just awestruck by what they had just heard. Then, Stevie and Jeff finished the gig with an encore of Going Down. Side by side, you could tell who was the master and who was the student.
I think one of the best concerts i ever saw was Jeff Beck and SRV they played 2 or 3 songs together it was powerful, 2 distinctly different techniques. Stevie attacking his guitar and Jeff caressing his but somehow they meshed so well..
I saw that, too. Unbelievable! I had seen SRV once before and he was a mess. The night I saw the two together, he challenged the champ! They were both monsters.
In 1977, upon my mom's shoulders, she took me to see Rick Derringer with Vinnie Apice, Danny Johnston, and Kenny Aaronson. Jeff Beck & Jan Hammer, both opening for Aerosmith on their Rocks album tour in the now destroyed Kingdome. I was eleven years old. It was much, much different in comparison with shows today. It was non-scripted, and you never knew what was about to happen. Rock concerts were really Rock concerts.
Rick, a big and warm salute for dedicating special episodes to the two Great Monsters of guitar, Guthrie and Jeff! Two of a kind, indeed! It would be wonderful to break down the music of this beautiful musical mind, named Hiromi Uehara, on one of your episodes. Sicilian Blue is a piece of art... Cheers!
He was the most humble genius of guitar. Like in the skate parks or in MotoGP, he was always highlighting the performance of his colleagues, not showing off.....RIP Jeff, you were one of one!
When I was 14 my brother turned me on to the Rough and Ready Album.. Amazing. No one was like JB. A true original if there ever was one! Thank you Rick for your insights. I always love your stories and knowing that you (besides be a fantastic musician and teacher) are also a true fan is so heartwarming. Peace to you...
I just turned 63 yesterday and this brought tears to my eyes. It's been 15 or more years since I listened to Jeff. I was crazy over JB growing up and then with the advent of I pods (which I misplaced mine years ago that had six or seven JB albums on it) then I sold my 98 chevy that had a cd player in it with three amps totaly over 800 watts and under back seat 10 inch subwoofers and maxed out aftermarket speakers in the front and upper rear seat, when I sold that truck 6 years ago it broke my heart as I lost my Ipod,, the best car stereo I ever had and my youth. Now with a 2019 Silverado with the highest end system that Chevy sold at the time I don't know how to listen to JB anymore as all I have is SIRIUS which is great but I can't just pop in a cd or the IPOD anymore and listen to hours of JB. I guess I'll have to dig out my LP's. I wish SIRIUS had a dedicated JB channel or a channel where you could listen to him. He nearly brought me to tears when I was younger and discovered his great talent. He made that guitar cry. It gets right into my heart.
“Like a human voice” is a pretty accurate descriptor. There is a range of expression few other players, if any, have mastered. The way he combines tone, dynamics, and technique and simple knowledge of the mechanics of his instrument results in a unique sound that can often affect the listener very deeply. The way he pays attention to the other players is also unique. He interacts with them constantly, and is often seen to make eye contact and smile. That is an artist, not just a “player”.
For this young lady to being able to play with such a legend and be able to play on the fly to make it cohesive and not get lost with such unique and off the chain phrasings is remarkable for her age and Jeff obviously knows she has the money.
Hey Rick. I was doing a insignificant little demo session in Nashville sometime back around 1988-90 as I remember. Chet happened to be visiting with the engineer for some reason and he was holding court. Something in the conversation came up about Jeff Beck and I remember Chet saying pretty close to verbatim "Yeah well there's a first chair and it's reserved for that guy".
Only Jeff Beck could make a guitar kiss you on the cheek, then punch you in the face, all within about 30 seconds. He was the only guitarist who made me want to work harder at guitar, and quit playing - simultaneously! God speed Maestro, we miss you!
Well said. There was nothing conventional about Jeff's playing. He was a one of a kind, original player that everyone could be in awe of. From blues to rock to jazz fusion and everywhere in between, he could do no wrong. And I bought Ozzy's latest cd mostly because I'd read that Jeff Beck played on it and sure enough, he delivered
Let's face it. His technique was so unique, of course you can't copy him. I fell in love with his playing in the Yardbirds as a young teen. So needless to say, I had to have a copy of his first solo album, especially as I was in my first garage band during my junior and senior years of high school. It didn't take long to recognize that his picking techniques coupled with how he manipulated his volume swells were beyond my ability to ever learn and copy. Then his wah work on "Ain't Superstitious" destroyed me. It reinforced my belief in the unholy trinity of Page, Clapton and Beck as my religion. I was so in love with that tune and "White Room" that I had to own my own wah. Incidentally, that one's been long gone, but I have one that I've had for the better part of 30 years now, and it's been on stage with me at The Roxy and The Whisky. So, again, yeah, Jeff Beck was a massive talent that was totally unique, and I think you'll agree with me when I say he was of that rare caliber that cannot be copied.
