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Rating: So, Enzo Miccio out of the way, thanks, we don't want favors or tailored ceremonial suits... come on guys, wear whatever the hell you want, here Bruce and his band don't care about labels, the important thing is to jam and make some noise, outdoors among true friends, damn it!
This is what happens when a magnificent piano-man makes a splash early in his career with a pop song (which nevertheless talked about unemployment), and instead of living off it his whole (artistic and not only) life, decides to remain faithful to himself and his ART and to explore to the fullest what he's passionate about. Well, what is our character passionate about?
Well, writing music that starts from American roots and crosses all genres, without marrying (!) any, in a way never banal, but absolutely close to POP, in its highest definition, and therefore also accessible to the widest possible audience. The Bruce in question is not a BOSS and never wanted to be one, but he is American in every cell. However, he never quite broke through in the United States, but enjoys a devoted hard core of fans, while in Europe he is now practically unknown, and finally in Italy he is just the one who in the '80s sang "The Way It Is" (oh, it doesn't appear in this collection on purpose!), and carved out a spot in the top ten 45 singles, possibly among Spaccàu Ballè(t) and Toto... Cutugno, good morning Italy, good morning Maria, I'm going back home, and in a hurry too!
Since then, 25 years have passed, the musical world and beyond has been flipped upside down a few times, Bruce makes three albums, then dissolves his group, the Range (but only as a name in the end), and in Hornsby’s house, (as since then he will record everything at home), the quality of the offerings, instead of decreasing, keeps increasing, as well as the exhausting live activity. Collaborating with him, among others, from the late '80s the marvelous Jerry Garcia, in the '90s Pat Metheny on "Harbor Lights" and "Hot House," Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Branford Marsalis, Bela Fleck, Bonnie Raitt; he performs for two years on a stable tour with the Grateful Dead; in the 2000s Elton John will sing with him (on "Halcyon Days"), he will play with Eric Clapton, then dedicate himself to an entirely bluegrass album with Ricky Skaggs and a completely jazz one with Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette.
But this marriage with the Noisemakers live, in truth, is the second; the first, I would say equally exciting, was celebrated at the end of the '90s with the title "Here Come The Noisemakers" and documented the best of that last period’s live shows. This double live album (which I purchased online thinking I wouldn't even find it by mistake in Italy, and instead I've recently discovered it’s available, what a treat!), encapsulates the activity of the "Noise Makers" from 2007 to 2009 (all US dates, obviously), and once again testifies to the harmony, the right feeling, the monstrous understanding matured over the years by this band on the improvisation front. Bruce is undoubtedly a great rock performer and has always loved shuffling the cards, surprising, merging cultured and traditional-popular music, changing registry, starting with Keith Jarrett and ending with Pink Floyd with some country in between; or almost suddenly following the shouted requests of the fans, with truly remarkable humility and amiability.
It's about 12+13 tracks that to a neophyte might sometimes seem a tad over the top, precisely because of the variety of influences they contain, as far from mainstream pop-rock as Bolzano is from Caltanissetta, but the result is so enveloping, melodic, and vital that it leaves us wanting to listen to everything again... which is what a "good record" should do, right?! And what else could we ask from an artist who's a three-time (out of 13) Grammy Award winner?
Wow, what time is it, already two hours flown by... watch out, here come Enzo Miccio and his partner with the favors... let's escape!
bye guys, have a good trip!
P.S. ironically splendid cover; the two lucky ones in outfits, not surprisingly, by Giorgio Armadi for him, and Pulce & Pojana for her, are bassist J.V. Collier and keyboardist John "JT" Thomas. Hairstyles by Aldo Cupola.
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