New Jersey Nights- Theatre Royal, Brighton 30/03/13

Set in a bar in the early 1960s, “New Jersey Nights” brought the sounds of Frakie Valli and the Four Seasons to Brighton over the Easter Weekend.

The production showcases the hits of the band, and Frankie Valli’s solo tracks from the early 1960s right up to their most recent recordings. From early close harmony pop to more funky and rock and roll numbers from the 1970s and 80s, the four singers and their band had much of the audience up and dancing.

The show was, however, stuck somewhere between a tribute act and a full-blown show, without really being either. The band was mostly hidden at the back of the stage as if it wasn’t there, apart from the odd number which featured their saxophone or guitar player, whilst it was still acknowledged that it was there and still in full view, suited up in order to retain a coherent image. There was a small troop of background dancers who joined in on many numbers, but on the songs when they weren’t dancing they seemed to be milling around onstage, or half playing background characters.

Along with the music of the Four Seasons (As it’s Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, doesn’t that mean there should have been 5 of them in total?) The show also showcased the music of some of the acts which were closely associated with them in the 60s- other bands which profited from Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound”, such as the Crystals and the Ronettes. Their songs were performed well, although one of the three members was absent from the performance which I attended which gave their performances and dance routines a very lopsided feel.

Overall, the performance was all about the music, and was played more as a tribute show than as a full musical-style show with a plot, and as such, the songs were well performed (despite a bit of corpsing over issues with the key in which they sang “Blue Moon”).

6/10

Jimi Hendrix- People, Hell and Angels

This posthumous release is the latest in a long line of albums comprised of what were unfinished, partially recorded songs, and lengthy jams captured before the legendary guitarist’s death in 1970. Unlike many of the others, however, this is the most complete “album” released since the 1990s. Made up from cuts of various musical experiments and line-ups which never made it onto full length albums, this collection includes interesting snapshots and insights into the working process of Jimi Hendrix’s various bands.

The tracks on People, Hell and Angels offer a snapshot into the various directions that Hendrix was moving toward, with either his later trio- Band of Gypsies, or expanded groups to include extra percussion, horns and secondary guitarists. This album comprises of a mix of hard, rock epics, showing Jimi playing at his best, soulful-jazz drenched, funky numbers and driving electric blues tracks. Despite the fact that some of the tracks on this album have been released on earlier posthumous albums, this is the first time that many of those have been released to the public at large without any extra overdubs or too much electronic alteration to remove the spirit and essence of Jimi’s playing from the takes.

Highlights include the wonderful Somewhere: A slow, acidic ballad, which is reminiscent of Little Wing, with slower verses and ample space for the fiery guitar work Jimi is famous for to shine through. Also, the funky, soulful Let Me Move You, which features Lonnie Youngblood on saxophone and vocals, showing off the roots of all the musicians involved on the recording, backing up Rhythm & Blues and Soul acts in the 1960s. The addition here of an organ as well as the sax shows how well Jimi could perform with a much fuller sounding line-up.

Whilst still nothing compared to the fully complete albums that were released during Jimi Hendrix’s lifetime, People, Hell and Angels represents a respectful look at the unpublished work which was unreleased until now, showing off the best of what could have been.

7/10