Published on Mar 10, 2020
Once Jethro Tull ended its existence, two of its main components began solo careers. Lead guitarist Martin Barre took a little bit longer than singer Ian Anderson to organize himself, but he’s out there playing for the fans. Barre was the longest serving member of Jethro Tull, and it’s no surprise that the majority of this set includes Tull material. In addition to that, there are several solo cuts from Barre’s solo records. It’s all very well played, and it makes up for a very nice set.
Live In NY proves that Barre can go out on his own and do justice to his legacy. His playing is still very much superb, and he pulls no punches here. All the songs you knew and loved are played with full expression and passion.
Singer Dan Crisp does a very good job bringing Anderson’s parts to life on the Tull songs. He does not sound like him, but he understands the style in which these songs were originally sung. It makes for an interesting contrast in the vocal department, and Crisp completely fits what Martin Barre is doing. It will be interesting to see what these two players will do in the future.
The majority of Jethro Tull songs come from the ‘70s, which is fine — it’s great and well-tested material that guarantees smiles and cheers from the audience. Still, it would be nice to maybe revisit some of the songs from 1980s which were great, but perhaps not as prolific. At the same time, whatever he would choose to play will leave someone unhappy. Better yet, new Martin Barre songs would be a welcomed addition.
As a set, Live In NY is a winner, a combination of CD and DVD in one package. So, you can listen to the performance while you drive a car and watch it on your big screen TV while relaxing. This combination can’t be beat, and it’s great to be picky and have choices. Either way, this is a great experience from a classic player who is taking his first solo baby steps.