Rick Wakeman And The English Rock Ensemble - Live From Buenos Aires (DVD) / Official Bootleg 1977 (CD)
	Released: 2002 Label: Classic Pictures Cat. No.: Total Time:DVD: 110:00 / CD: 56:00
	Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, September 2002 I am now firmly convinced that Rick Wakeman has to be the best keyboard player across the board in the world of music, bar none, and that includes for the past several decades. One look at his broad range of influences and what he has accomplished with Yes and his groundbreaking solo work is enough proof for me of his importance to music. Journey To The Center Of The Earth and several other albums are landmark keyboard recordings in the chronicles of progressive rock music. This amazing two-disc set gives you a stunning live performance in Buenos Aires on DVD and an equally exciting performance on an audio CD recorded in 1997 in Birmingham, England. The DVD is totally gripping. This was a great night for Wakeman and his band. The South American audience maintains a rabid following of this type of music, and they firmly embraced the entire offering of the English Rock Ensemble on this special evening. Rick and his son Adam form a superb combination on keys. During "Merlin The Magician," which is my favorite cut on the disc, the two family members take their place front and center stage and go back and forth with some great reciprocal runs on their strapped on keyboards. Rick and Adam converse and exchange smiles during the performance, and I found it particularly heartwarming. The sound is great, the visual effects are sharp and colorful, and the overall lighting and laser show is the perfect compliment to the long instrumental breaks during the songs. Damien Wilson does a commendable job on vocals, with the exception of "Starship Trooper," which closes out the evening. Jon Anderson owns that song and anyone trying to cover it just does not measure up. He reminded me of Ronnie James Dio when he was with Blackmore's Rainbow and Black Sabbath several times. His vocals lean towards opera, and that aspect of his style surely was an attraction for Wakeman. His epic compositions require that kind of emotion and stage presence to help the music make its total impact. Rick looks his regal elegant self, adorned in his long flowing robes with his massive keyboard set surrounding him. Not only was this DVD breathtaking, the bonus CD is very powerful and engaging in much the same way, minus the visual aspects. You get a chance to compare and contrast vocalists as Chrissie Hammond (on the CD) has a much higher voice and significantly more range than Wilson can attain. The interview piece with Rick is very interesting. He briefly describes his youth and all the different experiences that he so willingly took in as young keyboard maestro. He played anything and anywhere, ranging from playing jazz and funerals to strip clubs and his first touring band The Strawbs, he did it all. He also explains why he closes his eyes while playing. He envisions a film in progress while letting the music take shape. The audience and everything going on onstage can be very distracting, so this is how he learned to deal with it and prevent mistakes from happening in a song. Its no wonder this man is such a wizard and so capable of going in any direction he chooses when he plays. This is the complete package folks, and you must have this. Any Wakeman or Yes fan would be foolish to pass on this. Rating: 5/5 Note on the audio CD: The Official Bootleg 1977, a live recording from July 1997, Birmingham, UK, "is the only known live recording of that line up which makes it an extremely unique find and ultimately very collectable." More about Live From Buenos Aires (DVD) / Official Bootleg 1977 (CD): Track Listing: DVD: Lancelot And The Black Knight / Catherine Howard/ Catherine Of Aragon / The Visit / Return Of The Phantom / Extracts From Journey To The Centre Of The Earth / Catherine Parr / Merlin The Magician / Buried Alive / 1984 Starship Trooper CD: Lure Of The Wild / Robot Man / Extracts From The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table / After Prayers / Eleanor Rigby / Starship Trooper / Wurm DVD Special Features: fully animated menu, track selection, artist interview: Rick Wakeman - Behind The Music, Dolby Surround Sound, Musicians: DVD: Rick Wakeman -keyboards Adam Wakeman -keyboards Ant Glynne - guitars and backing vocals Tony Fernandez -drums Damien Wilson -vocals Lee Pomeroy - bass and percussion CD: Rick Wakeman - keyboards Adam Wakeman - keyboards and backing vocals Alan Thomson - bass and backing vocals Chrissie Hammond - vocals Tony Fernandez - drums and percussion Stuart Sawney - guitar (7) Contact: Website: www.rwcc.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Piano Vibrations (1971) The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973) Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) Lisztomania (1975) The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table   (1975) No Earthly Connection (1976) Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977) White Rock (1977) Animal Showdown (1979) Rhapsodies (1979) I'm So Straight I'm A Weirdo (1980) 1984 (1981) The Burning (OST) (1981) Rock n Roll Prophet (1982) Cost of Living (1983) G'ole! (1983) Crimes of Passion (OST) (1984) Live at Hammersmith (1985) Lytton's Diary (1985) Silent Nights (1985) Country Airs (1986) The Family Album (1987) The Gospels (1987) 20th Anniversary Limited Edition (1988) A Suite of Gods (1988) Custer's Last Stand/Ocean City (1988) Time Machine (1988) Zodiaque (1988) Black Knights At The Court Of Ferdinand IV (1989) Sea Airs(1989) Phantom Power (1990) In The Beginning (1990) Night Airs (1990) Phantom Power (1990) 2000AD Into The Future (1991) African Bach (1991) Aspirant Sunrise(1991) Aspirant Sunset(1991) Aspirant Sunshadows(1991) Rock n Roll Prophet Plus (1991) Softsword (1991) The Classical Connection (1991) Best Works Collection (1992) Country Airs (1992) Classic Tracks (1993) No Expense Spared (1993) Prayers (1993) The Classical Connection 2 (1993) The Heritage Suite (1993) Unleashing The Tethered One - The 1974 North American Tour (1993) Wakeman with Wakeman (1993) Light Up The Sky (1994) Live On The Test (1994) Lure Of The Wild (1994) Rick Wakeman's Greatest Hits (1994) The Stage Collection (1994) Wakeman with Wakeman - The Official Bootleg (1994) Wakeman with Wakeman Live (1994) Almost Live in Europe (1995) Cirque Surreal (1995) Rick Wakeman In Concert (1995) Rock & Pop Legends (1995) Romance of the Victorian Age (1995) The Piano Album (1995) The Private Collection (1995) The Seven Wonders of the World (1995) Visions (1995) Can You Hear Me? (1996) Fields of Green (1996) Orisons (1996) Tapestries (1996) The New Gospels (1996) The Word And Music (1996) Vignettes (1996) Voyage (1996) Welcome A Star (1996) Fields Of Green '97 (1997) Simply Acoustic - The Music (1997) Tribute (1997) Master Series (1998) Themes (1998) Official Live Bootleg (1999) Return To The Centre Of The Earth (1999) Stella Bianca Alla Corte De Re Ferdinando (1999) The Masters (1999) The Natural World Trilogy (1999) White Rock II (1999) Christmas Variations (2000) Chronicles Of Man (2000) Morning Has Broken (2000) Preludes To A Century (2000) Recollections - The Very Best Of Rick Wakeman (2000) Rick Wakeman The Legend Live In Concert 2000 (2000) The Caped Collection (2000) Classical Variations (2001/2002) Simply Acoustic (2001) Out Of The Blue (2001) Two Sides Of Yes (2001/2002) Treasure Chest Volume 1 - The Real Lizstomania (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 2 - The Oscar Concert (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 3 - The Missing Half (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 4 - Almost Classical (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 5 - The Mixture (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 6 - Medium Rare (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 7 - Journey to the Centre of the Earth + (2002) Treasure Chest Volume 8 - Stories (2002) Two Sides Of Yes - Volume II (2002) Wakeman & Cousins - Hummingbird (2002) Out There (2003) Retro (2006) Journey To The Center Of The Earth Live In 1975 (2001/2002) (DVD) Rick Wakeman The Legend Live In Concert 2000 (DVD) (2001/2002) Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble Live In Buenos Aires (DVD) (2001/2002) Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble - Out There (DVD) (2004) Journey To The Centre Of The Earth Live In 1975 - 30th Anniversary Edition (DVD) (2004) Made In Cuba (DVD) (2005)
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