JACK BRUCE. The composer, the singer, the multi-instrumentalist, the Legend. Hailed as one of the most powerful vocalists and greatest bassists of his time, his improvisational skill and utterly unique, free-spirited approach to composition and performance would forever change electric music. His pioneering, full-toned, free-wheeling playing on the electric bass revolutionised the way the instrument is used and influenced the playing of countless bassists to today, including Sting and Jaco Pastorius. His work with bands such as Cream and the Tony Williams Lifetime, as well as his solo material, unlocked the doors to the pent-up energy of a new approach to the art of sound, breaking the barriers of tradition and creating a kind of music that had never been heard.
A very welcome surprise indeed, this belated reissue documenting the The Jack Bruce Band's 1975 British tour adds another excellent chapter to the ex-Cream bassist's already impressive discography. Recorded at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in England and featuring a line-up comprised of Bruce(bass, vocals), Mick Taylor(guitar), Carla Bley(keyboards), Ronnie Leahy(piano) and Gary Bruce(drums), the imaginatively-titled 'Live '75' finds this particular five-piece in fine form, churning out an impressive set featuring mainly Bruce originals and topped off with a fiery, twelve-minute rendition of Cream's signature piece 'Sunshine Of Your Love'.
This three-disc set compiles two previously released Jack Bruce concerts with sessions that haven't been heard before, at least not officially. It should be noted that these are not his complete BBC sessions; ardent fans will more than likely quibble and argue about what is not here, though they will more than likely agree on what is…