There and back
Réjean Beaucage, translation by Melora Koepke
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Beck: The original guitar hero
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In advance of his first-ever Montreal appearance, legendary guitarist Jeff Beck reflects on a life lived
For many, Jeff Beck is part of a holy trinity of guitarists produced by U.K. groundbreakers The Yardbirds, joining Eric Clapton (whom Beck replaced in The Yardbirds in 1965, the youngest of the bunch) and Jimmy Page (who joined Beck in the band in 1965). These three names have a lot of mileage between them - Beck's path alone has crossed that of Rod Stewart, Donovan, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, John McLaughlin and Malcolm McLaren, among others.Beck was inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame for the second time last April (the first time was as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992). Though this may seem unsurprising to most rock fans, Beck still sounded somewhat surprised by the whole thing when I get him on the phone.
"When I saw what was up on the screen before I went up to get the award, I couldn't believe how much water had gone under the bridge!" he says. "The montage was over in a flash, but I think it was on for three or four minutes, and I just felt like, 'Wow! Seeing your whole life like that...'"
If his old pals Clapton and Page have stayed close to the blues tradition, Beck's trademark has always been innovation, from his first experiments with distortion (which inspired Hendrix) to his distinctive brand of jazz-rock.
"I suppose it was being inquisitive, you know?" he says. "[In that period between] 1954 and 1957, every day I had musical revelations. I [was] discovering new music and playing it to death. I spent all my time in record shops. I bought a Barney Kessel record once,
and it was so tasteful, the chords were so incredible... I thought it would be good to absorb some of that, and that's where the jazz really started, from listening to Kessel... And to Django Reinhardt, of course."Most musicians would kill for a spot with Beck on tour or in the studio. So how does he choose his partners? "After Simon Phillips left, I had to find another drummer - it's the most important, you know, to build from the ground up, you've got to get your drummer sorted out first - and I was blessed by a visit to my house by Vinnie [Colaiuta]. It was in early 1990 I think, and he says - I don't remember this 'cause we were drinking quite heavily - that we played for two days without stopping. He disappeared, but that's when I realized he would be the guy I would need ultimately."
Colaiuta made his name through his work with another headliner from Beck's past, Frank Zappa, with whom he collaborated on Joe's Garage (1979). He also recorded an album with the GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously) which was produced by Zappa.
"Oh! I remember that trip very well!" says Beck. "I actually picked up Frank at his house on that day, and he complained bitterly about my driving on the way [laughing]. But what a talent, I was really privileged to know him very well."
These days, the rhythm section of Beck's quartet is rounded out by a sensational young bass player from Australia, Tal Wilkenfeld, and on this, his memory is a bit clearer.
"When The Who offered Pino [Palladino] a full-time job, I had to find another bass man," he says. "I got a call from Vinnie telling me 'I know this chick,' and I was like, 'Oh no...,' thinking it might be a friend of his that could play a 12-bar blues... He said if I didn't like her he would pay for her ticket. But within 10 minutes we were writing up a storm in the house!"
The beginning of Beck's current tour saw David Sancious filling the keyboardist's seat, but Jason Rebello (who's been with Beck for the last few years) is sitting in for the European leg of this tour, which restarts June 24, hitting the festival circuit until the end of July, with three stops in Canada, including Montreal on July 6.
Strangely, this Jazz Fest date will be Beck's first time in Montreal. Why the long wait? "That's probably an error of the agency, I don't know. I cannot understand why we would go from Detroit to Toronto, and then go back to the States... But I'll be very happy to be there!" he says.
Judging by what the band played on the first leg of the tour, audiences are in for a broad selection of the guitarist's vast repertoire, but how does Beck settle on a setlist?
"I'm trying to get three or four new ones together to rehearse, but it's not easy because Vinnie and Tal come over to England just the day before the tour starts. By the time we get to Montreal we should have two or three new ones. For the rest, I let Vinnie and Tal sort it out, because they're the ones who know what suits them, and whatever suits them, suits me."
Jeff Beck
At Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, July 6, 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
| Jeff at the Symphony Hall Birmingham UK 25th June |
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Get your tickets now if you still can! I went to see Jeff Last night.Absolutely oustanding,the band were incredibly tight, considering Tal and Vinnie had only been the Uk sine the weekend! Fantastic. Tal is the coolest Bassist around and really cute too!
Vinnie an absolute powerhouse on the Drums and Jason does a fine Jan Hammer vibe on the 80's stuff.
Set list a great one for the fans,opening with Becks Bolero and covering There and Back, Wired as well as more recent stuff,Cause we've ended as lovers oustanding, also brilliant version of Nadia.Best of all ,they look like they really enjoy playing together and that communicates well to the crowd.
Much love from the UK
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Ian Howat
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| LEAST APPRECIATED OF THE TRIO |
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In North America Jeff Beck is the least appreciated of the Yardbirds guitar trio.While the other two have gone to amass fame and fortune from their talent, Jeff has been hovering on the periphery of the music scene. Only when he gets into a squable with Rod Stewart
( another of his protege ) does he get noticed. His Truth album is still one of the best guitar albums out there.
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Sam Truglio
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