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Joe Beck Trio: Get Me Joe Beck
ByBeck, witty and self-effacing, always took such things in stride. Get Me Joe Beck, recorded live at Anna's Jazz Island in Berkeley, CA, in November 2006, was the guitarist's last album, and expresses in its title his philosophy about the transient nature of fame and fortune: First, he writes, it was "Who's Joe Beck?," followed by "Get me Joe Beck!," then "Get me someone who sounds like Joe Beck!," and finally "Who's Joe Beck?" Those to whom questions one and four apply will be pleasantly surprised not only to learn who Joe Beck is (that is to say, was) but thoroughly charmed by his remarkable ability to take a guitar and make it sing like the sweetest birds they've ever heard.
While it's true that Beck's trio (Peter Barshay, bass; David Rokeach, drums) takes no undue risks on this even-tempered concert date, the music they play and their earnest approach to it leaves no room for censure. Everyone is on his toes in a program that is comprised of seven standards, Luiz Bonfa's "Manha de Carnaval" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Corcovado," lightly sprinkled with wry commentary by Beck. The scrupulous choice of music affirms, in fact, that if nothing else, Beck had excellent musical taste, as the trio opens with Victor Young's unforgettable "Stella by Starlight" before moving on to a number of other classics: "Alone Together," "Tenderly," "I Can't Get Started," "You and the Night and the Music" and two versions of "Georgia on My Mind" (the second trimmed for radio play).
Beck says in spoken commentary between numbers that his rhythm section is "stupid good" (meaning they don't come much better), and he's right about that, as he is about how to precisely align notes, chords and phrases for greatest impact. The translucent recorded sound is another bonus. A trio session that is well worth hearingmore than once.
Track Listing
Stella By Starlight; Manha De Carnaval; "The Guitar Is A Six Piece Band" (Spoken); Georgia On My Mind; Alone Together; Trios Interlude (Spoken); Tenderly; On Ballads And Drinking (Spoken); I Can't Get Started; You And The Night And The Music; Jobim (Spoken); Corcovado; Georgia On My Mind.
Personnel
Joe Beck
guitarJoe Beck: guitar; Peter Barshay: bass; David Rokeach: drums.
Album information
Title: Get Me Joe Beck | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Whaling City Sound