Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott's

"Wow" is the first word that comes to mind in trying to describe this concert footage of Jeff Beck at this London jazz club, "Ronnie Scott's."

I have seen Jeff Beck play guitar a few times here and there over the years, but never more than a couple songs at one venue. Now, I pretty much have an idea of all his guitar-playing talents......and it's even more awesome than I had guessed they would be. This review, thus, is for people not all that familiar with Beck's talents. If you already are, you've already bought this DVD.

In this concert, you see Beck play everything from jazz to blues to rock to ballads to "space music." The camera-work is very good in that you really get a good luck at Jeff's ability on the guitar. You see how he produces some of his amazing sounds.

You'll also see what a great band he has put together. Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Jason Rebello on keyboards and Tal Wilkenfeld on bass are all exceptional musicians and fun to watch. All four members of this group can be seen constantly smiling and really enjoying themselves.

A great addition to the Blu-Ray disc, and a reason to buy it, is the bonus material beginning with the seven-song rockabilly set with Beck and The Big Town Playboys. These guys do a great job of sounding like the late '50s rockers like Gene Vincent and Carl Perkins. It ends with a great sax solo on the old Bill Doggett number, "Honky Tonk." In addition, there are interviews with everyone all they're all interesting.....really. This Blu-Ray disc is worth the extra money and highly-recommended.

Whenever I'd thought of the music of Jeff Beck it was only how he sounded either with the Yardbirds or back in the 1970's, I never realised he'd still be playing, playing well and still evolving. This concert was an ear-opener for me – recorded in November 2007 at cosy Ronnie Scott's in London with an excellent band behind him it made me understand just how understated if not underrated as a top guitarist he has been. Rolling Stone magazine placing him as the fifth most influential guitarist of all time didn't filter down to the general public, ie me.

Beck played from a wide and long selection of his own songs to pop to jazz fusion to blues classics with guests including Joss Stone, Imogen Heap and Eric Clapton for even more contrast. His band were Vinnie Colaiuta (ex-Zappa) on drums, Tal Wilkenfeld (Aussie lady bassist, looking impossibly young next to her grizzled cohorts), and Jason Rebello on keyboards – and they all worked perfectly together and looked like they enjoyed every moment. Hardly a word was spoken to the audience except for the couple of vocal songs, culminating in entertaining arty music for grown-ups with Beck's non-stop inventiveness on guitar riveting everyone both in Ronnie Scott's, and my house. Music is always a personal preference of course but my favourites from this set are Behind The Veil and Nadia, both pulsating tunes with hypnotic stabbing sounds. He did another set earlier in the evening with the Big Town Playboys which I think is on the DVD, but rockabilly has never over-rocked my boat or billy and this didn't either. That train kept a rollin' for me.

Basically, he was amazing that night and I was duly amazed so recommend watching/listening to it to anyone interested. The tune he ended the night with was a knockout too even if a few moments sounded lifted from the Dead's classic Feedback. It was still ten minutes too short but had a very apt title: Where Were You. I don't know the answer to that one but I'll have to find out asap where he was for the last forty years.

Jeff Beck is one of the best guitarists ever, and I am his fan since I was a teenager. I have most of his CDs, including the fantastic box "Beckology" in my collection.

The DVD "Jeff Beck Performing This Week... Live at Ronnie Scotts" is one of the best concerts I have ever seen and a must-see live performance for even those that do not know his discography well. I do not how expensive the ticket was to see this player in at the jazz bar at Ronnie Scotts in London, but I envy the audience that had the chance to delight with this concert live. Jeff Beck is absolutely inspired, well supported by the cute and young Australian bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Jason Rebello on keyboards. The cameo of the wonderful Joss Stone and Eric Clapton (and Imogen Heap, who is unknown to me) are remarkable moments of this unforgettable show. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Jeff Beck Performing This Week... Live at Ronnie Scotts"

Beck is one of the 3 seminal guitarists of his generation of white blues-rockers (the other two being Clapton and Page) and by far the most versatile of them; this concert shows his staggering range of rock (heavy as well as melodious), blues, boogie, gospel, jazz, John McGlaughlin, swamp funk, whale song, and you won't believe what this man can do with a bottle neck. He has a terrific backing band for this gig (keyboardist and drummer from Sting's band), and a sassy bassist young enough to be his granddaughter. The recording and photography are very good. Yes, that's Robt. Plant in the audience. The special guests are great, too: Imogen Heap does vocals on two tracks, Joss Stone on one track, and Clapton comes on at the end.

The DVD features a long interview w/the man himself, which is great fun. He is articulate, modest, and amusing, and gives good insights into his choice of tracks for the gig.

For many rock fans of my generation (Cream, Yardbirds, Led Zep, etc.), Beck was a mythical figure who seemed to drop off the radar. While Clapton and Page went on to make it rich and famous in the rock world, Beck went sideways into jazz fusion and experimental things. But he never forgot his roots (blues-rock). This video is an excellent demonstration of him in top form.

Clapton is master of his instrument--Beck and the instrument are one. This video is a must-see for any aspiring guitar hero.

I need to watch again to see the "who's who" in the audience, but definitely Robert Plant, and a bunch of Famous guitarists with their jaws dropped in awe.

Jimi Hendrix is smiling in his grave... Jeff Beck is the only other guitarist on the planet that can "speak his mind" with his fingers.