Toto
Live in Paris 1990

Last week, I had the pleasure of reviewing the album ''The Seventh One'' by Toto, dated 1988. Today, however, I am preparing to do the same for a concert belonging to the tour following that album.

In front of the packed audience at the legendary ''Le Zenith'' theater in Paris, unfolds a live performance of exceptional quality. If Toto are (rightly) considered a radio band, one cannot say the same when discussing their quality. No radio can quite capture performances like these: when quality exists, it shines through regardless of the musical genre, and Toto undoubtedly possesses it. The show opens with ''Child's Anthem'', an instrumental piece full of adrenaline. It's amazing to see how these 6 musicians understand each other perfectly, and the early audience frenzy speaks for itself. After this breathtaking intro, the band's classics flow: between ''Rosanna'' and ''I Won't Hold You Back'', passing through ''Without Your Love'' and ''Africa'', the concert takes a wonderful turn.

One cannot help but notice a David Paich in perfect form and, at the same time, a great Steve Lukather whose surprising solos ''force'' me to place him at the top of my personal ranking of the best contemporary guitarists, since I don't think there are any other options. As an (amateur) drummer, I wish to focus particularly on the superb performance of the late Jeff Porcaro: he doesn't miss a beat, and I am not surprised to see him considered one of the best drummers of all time. In particular, his contribution to the splendid ''I'll Be Over You'' is something magical. An impressive naturalness behind those drums that goes unnoticed by only a few characters. Also notable is the performance of the new entry Jean-Michel Byron, who (at least in this live show) seems to be less unbearable than usual.

After 9 tracks, the concert reaches its end, short (with a duration of 64 minutes) but intense. The whole thing is sealed with the classic ''Hold the Line'', making it the tenth and final song of the evening. There's not much left to say: the quality of the live performance is undeniable, and so is the quality of the band. Certainly one of the best live performances by Toto.