Guitarist Jeff Beck’s unexpected passing earlier this year took the rock world by surprise. He died suddenly of bacterial meningitis. He was 78. R.I.P. (June 24, 1944–January 10, 2023)
A guitar player’s guitar player, Jeff Beck was considered one of the top five of all time. An eight-time Grammy winner, he was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—as a member of the Yardbirds, and for his own Jeff Beck Group.
Jeff was a humble person, admired and liked by all. Read Jeff Beck, Rock’s Quiet Guitar Virtuoso, Dead at 78. It includes loving quotes from members of Rock and Roll royalty.
Once news of his sudden passing came out, many of us searched his music online. I was impressed by his amazing virtuosity and versatility. Equally at home in different musical genres, he had his own unique style of playing that defied categorization. Jeff never sang; his guitar did.
Part of Gene’s comment explains: “He is a fusion of blues, soul & progressive rock. He could manipulate the strings, whammy bar, volume & tone knobs simultaneously, with technical mastery, to seamless & absolutely dazzling effect. He had voice on the guitar that was exceedingly rare and distinct.”
Here are a few videos that will give us an idea of his range and talent. They cover R & B, Rock, Pop, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Classical, Opera, and Celtic, respectively: Drown In My Own Tears on Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (Dec 2002); Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers from Live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London (Nov 2007), and at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago Southland (July 2007), which contain Tal’s impressive bass solos; Superstition with Stevie Wonder at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary (Oct 2009); Blue Wind and Star Cycle with Jan Hammer, Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Aug 2016); Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s 5th Symphony (2005); Nessun Dorma (No One Sleeps) at Royal Albert Hall (2010); Mna Na Hereann (Women of Ireland) with Sharon Corr (Aug 2011); and Davy Spillane‘s haunting Midnight Walker at The Woodlands, TX (Sep 2022).
Also enjoy Jeff Beck – Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s.
Accompanying Jeff were Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass guitar, and Jason Rebello on keyboards. Amazing musicians in their own right, they produced an exciting cohesive sound. The joy they shared making great music together showed on their smiling faces. One highlight was Jeff using a glass bottleneck slide to delicately tap out high notes at the lowest position on the strings in Angel (Footsteps), which drew a standing ovation from the audience, and a pleasing smile from Jeff. The evening’s 21 performances included a few surprise guest appearances, like Joss Stone and Eric Clapton. But the one that stood out for me was Imogen Heap. She sang and riffed her way through a jazzy-bluesy performance of Blanket, weaving her magic, enthralling the lucky attendees. The band grooved, and Jeff deftly, tastefully, contributed two short sublime solos (1 & 2). The camera caught a few famous musicians in the crowd, among them lifelong friend Jimmy Page beaming after A Day in the Life. Jeff concluded the night with the hauntingly beautiful Where Were You, from his 1989 album Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop. Jeff was interviewed on the success of the 5-night run at Ronnie Scott’s. He talked about each musician and every song on the set list. The show was edited into a 1-hour program for broadcast on the BBC. In 2009, it was released on DVD, Blu-ray, Multi-Format, and Prime Video. In 2015, a Deluxe Edition came out with all 28 songs on 2 CDs (1h 54m), including the Extra 7-song Rockabilly set with Beck and the Big Town Playboys, available on Spotify.
I embedded those previously listed videos for your enjoyment, plus one.
Jeff Beck beautifully played all of Women of Ireland, Live in Moscow at Crocus City 2010, and with violinist Lizzie Ball Live at Madison Square Garden 2013. “Mná na hÉireann” (Women of Ireland), a poem written by Ulster poet Peadar Ó Doirnín (1704–1796), became famous as a song.
Midnight Walker was recorded for his album ‘18‘ with Johnny Depp. A spoken word poem by Imelda May written at Beck’s suggestion and approval was later added, but was sadly first performed live to track at his funeral: Jeff Beck ft. Imelda May – Midnight Walker Lament (2023).
It seems appropriate to conclude with Jeff Beck playing Elegy for Dunkirk featuring classical singer Olivia Safe, the 10th and final number on his album Emotion & Commotion (2010). The album was nominated for 5 Grammy awards and won two.
Elegy for Dunkirk is part of the OST composed by Dario Marianelli for the film Atonement (2007). It was performed by the English Chamber Orchestra featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and cellist Caroline Dale. In 2008, it won the Academy Award for Original Music Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. Marianelli also received three awards for Film Score of the Year, Best Original Score, and Film Music Composition of the Year for “Elegy for Dunkirk” in the International Film Music Critics Association Awards.
Here is a live performance of Elegy for Dunkirk featuring Jeff Beck and Olivia Safe with the English Chamber Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall (October 26, 2010). See this complete brighter wider view with extras.
Enjoy this excellent earlier retrospective interview at Abbey Road Studios, Jeff Beck Talks Music (2013), where Jeff also demonstrates musical selections on his guitar. See this Jeff Beck Tribute RAH 23.05.2023: film about Jeff and Elegy For Dunkirk (Olivia Safe, R. Randolph). Eric Clapton – 23 May 2023, London, Tribute To Jeff Beck – Multicam – COMPLETE.
See setlist.fm (The Setlist Wiki): Jeff Beck Concert Setlists & Tour Dates.
Jeff Beck’s last words before he died was a poem by African-American writer Langston Hughes.
Life is for the living.
Death is for the dead.
Let life be like music.
And death a note unsaid.
― Langston Hughes, The Collected Poems
Also see: JEFF BECK – Still on the Run 2018 (official documentary). Singer Beth Hart says, “He’s the most innovative guitarist of all time.” Guitarist Jennifer Batten says, “There’s a difference between playing music and being music … and that’s how he is set apart because he IS music.”
Also listen to this comprehensive The “I’m In Love With That Song” Podcast on Jeff Beck – A Retrospective posted March 1, 2024.
A year later I discovered a wonderfully insightful interview with one of Jeff’s bassists posted January 9, 2024—a Lex Fridman Podcast (#408): Tal Wilkenfeld: Music, Guitar, Bass, Jeff Beck, Prince, and Leonard Cohen.
Another great musician left us unexpectedly a few months earlier. See Rock’s Songbird—Christine McVie—has flown free.
I added this two and a half years later: Enjoy my favorite Jeff Beck pieces from Live at Ronnie Scott’s: Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers, Blanket featuring Imogen Heap, Where Were You.
Check out more amazing musicians in the Archive ‘Music’ Category of The Uncarved Blog.
— Written and compiled (citing sources) by Ken Chawkin for The Uncarved Blog.
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