Published on Oct 23, 2002
There is an excellent chance that Rick Wakeman, the musician
responsible for today’s review subject, will be reading this. So,
if our regular readers don’t mind too much, I’d like to direct this
review to Mr. Wakeman himself…
Rick – I
can call you Rick, right? – I have to be critical right at
the outset when talking about
The Legend: Live In Concert 2000. This show – which was
recorded at Sheperton Studios before a small but passionate
audience – has one major flaw that I wish could be addressed…
It’s far, far too short.
In a span of 90 minutes, you lock the listener in with your warm
and enchanting melodies as well as your good natured humor, making
it feel like those who are watching this concert have a front-row
seat. Even if someone isn’t as familiar with your discography
(including myself – though I’m working on it), you take numbers
like “Birdman Of Alcatraz” and “Children Of Chernobyl” and make
them sound like they’re old friends dropping by to relive good
times in the past.
One might wonder how you’re able to pull all of this off in a
solo performance, backed only by your bank of synthesizers. But you
pull it off, Rick, even to the point where you take a brief medley
of Yes songs – “And You And I” and “Wonderous Stories” – and
perform them in such a way that one doesn’t even notice that the
familiar vocals of Jon Anderson or the distinct bass style of Chris
Squire are nowhere to be heard. The point is, it works, and it
works well.
Even the old tracks from your discography – namely, the three
selections you play from
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII – sound as fresh today as they
did when they were first recorded back in the ’70s. Once, I thought
I’d miss hearing the original instrumentation, especially on songs
like “Catherine Of Aragon,” but you adapt modern technology well to
fit these pieces. (The live performance of “Jane Seymour” is
absolutely breathtaking – though I am curious, is the sampled organ
you’re playing the one from St. Giles?)
Even music that you didn’t write comes alive on
The Legend. You respectfully take on The Beatles (“Help /
Eleanor Rigby”), playfully tackle children’s songs (“The Nursery
Rhyme Concerto”) and lovingly close the show with a Debussy classic
(“Clare De Lune”), and it is as natural a fit to your music as ham
is to eggs.
While this DVD comes with a bonus CD featuring all the audio
tracks from this show (plus one bonus song, “Merlin The Magician”),
it’s theDVD that has to be experienced. Just watching you become
enraptured in these songs, as well as your lightning-fast reflexes
on the keyboards, seals the deal for me. (Besides, the CD removes
all the audience’s applause, as well as your stories.)
Ah, those stories – complaint number two. I realize this was a
musical performance, Rick – but I could have sat through an entire
DVD filled with the stories you have to tell. (Note to die-hard
Wakeman fans: Yes, I know that disc eight of
Treasure Chest has nothing but these stories. I just don’t
have about $150 to part with to order this set.) At times serious,
often humorous, they’re as intregal a part of this show as the
music itself.
Frankly, Rick, this could have been a two DVD set or more, and I
still don’t think I would have my fill of either the music or the
stories. I guess I should be happy with what I have – namely, a
concert that lives up to its title. Anyone who has ever been a fan
of your music or Yes’s should absolutely not miss this disc.
2002 Christopher Thelen and “The Daily Vault”. All rights
reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without
written permission.