The highly anticipated DVD of Jon Lord’s Bucharest 2009 concert is finally out. Check out the taster clip below.
The DVD was filmed in Bucharest, Romania on November 5, 2009 and features the full second half of Jon’s concert that night.
It includes tracks from Sarabande, Pictured Within, Beyond The Notes – as well as three Deep Purple favourites rearranged by Jon Lord for full symphony orchestra.
You get 50% off the Bucharest CD if you buy it now with the new DVD at Jon Lord’s web shop.
Coinciding with this DVD release, Jon Lord’s web shop has also launched its Christmas Sale with massive discounts on several of Jon Lord’s other solo projects.
Having watched the band perform since Mk III in 74 through Knebworth and many times since (see reviews of Paris, London & Cardiff) I really had a lot of expectation of the fusion once again of Rock Band and Orchestra celebrating their greatest songs at the O2 in London 2011.
We had great seats but I have to say this gig whilst it had some great moments where the orchestra really works with the band such as Rapture, Perfect Strangers the mix and sound was awful at times and was obviously proving a difficult task for the sound crew. At times Ian was left low in the mix as I think he struggles with some of the classics such as Highway the opener. Unfortunately the band at times look tired and there were quite a few mistakes even from Steve (1st time I can remember) at the end of Contact lost and Don going into Perfect Strangers way early and ending up having to quickly divert.
It was nice to see the impromptu Happy Birthday from the Orchestra for Roger and the violin duel with Steve was superb. However, whilst the band are on record as saying it is difficult at times playing with an orchestra and Ian saying there are always plenty of mistakes, this show has been on the road for best part of a year. The musicianship is always solid and the performances from Ian and Roger were solid but in a huge tent they call an arena not dissimilar to an aircraft hanger I would rather see the boys playing the smaller venues with some new material! Come on we’ve waited for 5 years now and rehashing the greatest hits even with an orchestra is becoming worn out. Please get back in the studio! as I remember how fresh those new songs from rapture sounded in Paris!
I was privileged to witness a stellar performance by the guys in Manchester yesterday. This was my 7th Purple gig, the first being Knebworth in 1985, and this was easily the best. The whole band was on fire, rocking and grooving their way through a perfectly paced set given a new lease of life by the addition of the orchestra.
Indeed, the orchestra was fantastic, playing with gusto and adding real depth and dynamics to the band’s sound, and the “duel” between Steve and the violin player was a real highlight of the show. All five of the guys played brilliantly, they were clearly having a ball and it showed in their performances.
Stars for me were Don Airey (who looks really at home now, no longer the ‘new boy’ but a fully fledged and integral part of the band’s sound) and Big Ian – yes, he occasionally misses the high notes these days but his lower register was strong and powerful and he remains a top front man.
What made the evening really special was that I took my 14 year old lad along for his first Purple show and he loved every minute of it. I went along wondering whether this might be the last time I’d see them, but after this show I reckon they could have another 10 years in them yet!
Can a lady at the piano sound just as badass as Messrs Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord and Paice did back in 1972? Judge for yourself. Continue Reading »
Roger Glover posts a message on his web site that, amongst other things, confirms that he flies easyJet like us, mere mortals.
On the topic that always creates a stir on ’em internets:
IG and I shared the journey to Frankfurt via Caracas and we had time to chat about the next album. It was a productive talk and despite all the negative things buzzing around the Internet, we are enthusiastic and will definitely be working on the project early in the New Year. I read somewhere that all the tracks were finished, awaiting only vocals. That’s not true. From the writing session earlier this year at El Cortijo studio in Spain (not Ian Paice’s studio, as I think some believe), we have a dozen unfinished jams and ideas for songs – rough diamonds that have yet to be polished. There it is.
Canadian tour dates in February 2012 have all been confirmed without any changes to the previously posted. Tickets for the most shows go on sale to general public this Saturday, December 3, with presales (where available) starting on December 1. Check your local classic rock radio station for presale info (and share below).
The usual set with an orchestra? We didn’t know what to expect but need not have worried. The orchestra really added something to the mix with added swing and different interpretations of the songs we know and love. They added even more power to the band and Well Dressed Guitar and Rapture of the Deep were superb.
The man who really stood out was Don Airey who seemed to love every second and was on fire alongside the always excellent Ian Paice. Highlights were many although the real standouts were Perfect Strangers and Lazy and it was great to hear Hard Lovin’ Man. It would have been good to hear Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming too but I suppose they did that at the ’99 gig.
The sound men did a great job too with the acoustics as the SECC is a hard place to get right. The band will be hard pressed to top this although a new album might do the trick….
I’ve seen Deep Purple every time they have played the SECC and also in various other places around Europe when I can.
This tour with the orchestra is not to be missed. If you don’t have a ticket, buy one now, you won’t regret it. I was 8 rows back and the mix was great. The orchestration brings a new variation to the songs and compliments the sound of the band perfectly. It was great to see the orchestra enjoying the gig as much as the audience. It highlights what Paul Mann had previously observed on the 2000 concerto tour when he said that orchestras loved working with Purple due to their musicianship.
All band members played to the usual high standard. I’m a big Ian Paice fan and he seemed to be really fired up. He’s influenced by big band music, so I think he enjoys having the orchestra. It can’t be easy with him being critical to the timing of both the band and orchestra, but he makes it look effortless.
For me, the attraction of Deep Purple is the level of musicianship. Having an orchestra with them does not in any way detract from that, it actually does the opposite and shows how good they are actually are to be able to integrate it all faultlessly.
Well I’ve seen purps a few times now since the reform and there have been a few enjoyable dates – like the trip down to Ipswich to see Jon Lords last show. Over the years I have tried to see as many as I can and 2007 it was 4 during the UK tour including 3 on the Trot, Glasgow, Sheffield and Birmingham and yep good fun…
SO last nights show in Glasgow with the orchestra behind was … erm … in simple terms ONE of the best I’ve seen in a good few years. I’m not going to break it all down… JUST go and see it OK.
I hope you have better weather than I did as a car aqua planning on all 4 wheels in the oustside lane at 60 mph for 100 yards is not fun. Anyhow waffle … the boys are really flying at the moment … GO AND SEE THEM, ok, and enjoy – all the old favs are there and Lazy and When a blind man cries (my favs) were just superb.
It is our understanding that the Canadian dates in February that we posted on Thursday are very much preliminary despite that at the time of publication they were appearing on both official sites. As of now they are still unconfirmed. Do not make any travel plans yet.
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Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing