CCEB In Toronto Last Night

Hey HODers...

Here are my comments on last night's CCEB concert in Toronto...

I missed the first 5 mins due to a brutal traffic jam... I really enjoyed the overview I had from my Balcony seat. The Massey Hall has a reputation for being one of the best sounding venue in town. I experienced it with the Pat Metheny Group a few years back... So I was expecting the same last night... NOT!! Gambale's guitar mix was very "muddy" to me, could barely hear him, got beter at the end. Dave's cymbals sounded AWESOME, but not so much his toms, could barely hear them while the whole band was playing, same with the snare.

As most of you know, the 1st Set features tunes from the new To The Stars CD, and older tunes on the second Set. Chick's Rhodes and Yamaha Motif 8 are scary pieces of machinery!! Beside Dave's playing, the major highlights were Chick and Ric Febriacci on bass... WOW what a tasty, groovy bass player with chops!! I didn't miss Patitucci at all.

Dave's musicality, touch and control has reached an all time high IMHO. His choice of surfaces, dynamics really allowed everything to melt-in with the WHOLE. How he interplays with the various intricate melodies really impacted me last night, he contributed in such a positive way to the various moods the tunes were calling for. We all know it, I'll say it again, Dave's technique is now as sharp as it can get. It is beautiful to see him play, so smooth and relaxed.

BUT.... Something was missing at times. Chick's music now and again calls for agressivity. Dave has always delivered those moments in the past (in his own way anyway). I am talking about his chops. He kept them low key most of the evening, sticking to touch and finesse. Nothing wrong with that, as written above, I enjoyed that aspect BIG TIME last night. BUT when they played the old material... I was expecting those Weckl-like tom fills... He refrained.

UNTIL.........................

GOT A MATCH!!!

BRILLANT performances by ALL!!! At the end of the tune, Chick got off his Rhodes and pulled his portable keyboard and jumped in front of Weckl and they got into this Drum-Piano improvised Duo that just KILLED!!!! It felt like Chick said to himself "OK, c'mon Dave, show 'hem Torontonians what you got!!!" And Dave delivered BIG TIME!!! An highlight for me, what a way to close such an overall great show.

I also got to meet our fellow HODer Bryan Valeriani, real cool Chap. Pleased to meet you Bryan!!

PS: Found out from reliable source that Dave was VERY TIRED after the show... That explains certains things. Touring has a price doesn't it...

Later,

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 04, 2004 07:09 PM: Message edited by: Beat Hit ]</font>

Thanks Beat Hit for the good review.

When i saw Weckl with Stern and Wooten he killed it... it was the first time i had ever seen him in a non-clinic setting. Seeing him with Chick, i think i would fall out. My guitar playing buddy was there at the Stern gig, and he was knocked out by Weckl. He said that you would have to pay Weckl $10,000 (US dollars [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) to make a mistake, but even then he wouldn't let you record it. I think he's right...

12 days to go and I'll be watching this show in NY !

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He said that you would have to pay Weckl $10,000 (US dollars ) to make a mistake, but even then he wouldn't let you record it. I think he's right

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LMAO [img]wink.gif[/img]

I went to the CCEB gig at Massey Hall.

It was great concert as well as inspiring.

As far as Weckl, all I can say is that he gets better and better as the years go on. He has something other than chops, he has a flow to his playing that puts his ability over the top. As we all know there are a lot of technically great drummers around but most of them leave you cold(at least thats how I feel), Weckl knows how to tap into his technical abilitys to create some beautiful music. Do your self a favor and see the CCEB if they are in your area.

Also note the bass player is something else! He brings something different to the table. I was impressed.

ric f. plays around LA all the time. great bass player. i think he plays with virgil quite often too.

Hey jgadd...

Out of curiosity, where were you seated and how did it sound from where you were?

Thank for the good review Beat!!

I know what you and jgadd mean. I already said that, after going to Freddie, Dave lost something. Yes I think he lost a bit of that edgy/chopsy/kicky playing which I liked but he evolved to something else. His sound is so flowing and full. He uses all of his kit in such a musical/interplaying way. He's got it all.

Hey, what's up with Patitucci? He's so on and off. Is he still with the band or what? When I saw them it was Mike Pope. Now Febriacci. They're good players, but going to a reunion concert, we'd expect to hear the classic rhythm section...
Maybe he should rename it: CCEBOS (Chick Corea Elektrik Bunch Of Subs) [img]wink.gif[/img]

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Hey, what's up with Patitucci? He's so on and off. Is he still with the band or what?

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tombo... I think the THEME the Tour is based upon started rubbing him the wrong way... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

BTW... Is To The Stars available at various Records Stores??? Can't never see it at various HMV around town.