Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/02/2006
During his brief yet legendary career, the albums released during
Jimi Hendrix's lifetime could be broken down into two categories -- psychedelic hard rock and funk/soul rock. The latter style could be pinpointed to the 1970 release
Band of Gypsys, a live recording which saw
Hendrix hook up with old pals
Billy Cox (guitar) and
Buddy Miles (drums), and shy away from the pyrotechnics of his early days in favor of heavy jamming. Thirty-six years after the release of the
Band of Gypsys' lone album comes a follow-up,
Band of Gypsys Return, on which
Hendrix's shoes are filled by such players as
Eric Gales,
Kid Rock's
Kenny Olson, and
Guitar World Magazine's
Andy Aledort, among others. Comprised of both studio and live recordings, several
Hendrix classics are revisited, as well as a pair of tunes penned by
Cox for
Jimmy Stewart (aka Buzzard), who was a musical influence on
Hendrix and
Cox (according to
Cox's liner notes). For the most part, the renditions of the
Hendrix classics follow the original versions closely -- especially
Aledort's fine job of re-creating the long-and-winding solos of
"Machine Gun," as well as
Olson tackling
"Stone Free." But elsewhere, tracks like
"Manic Depression" get a significant overhauling, and the two aforementioned
Stewart tribute tracks,
"You've Got the Best in Town" and
"Let Your Word Be Your Bond" fit in well. As evidenced by
Band of Gypsys Return,
Cox and
Miles still make up one hell of a rhythm section. [Also included is a DVD, which includes performances, as well as interviews with both
Cox and
Miles.]
~Greg Prato, All Music Guide
;)
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