Influences: Jeff Beck
While Jimmy Page was better known, Jeff Beck really was the best that came out of the early Yardbirds era.
The recent passing of one of the true greats spurred a riffing through my collection for his music. I am sad to say that my collection was rather thin, comprised of a box set of the Yardbirds (and that is a deep well of amazing music), and his second solo album “Blow by Blow” released in 1974,
was his first studio release after the Bogert, Beck and Appice, an early “super-group1” disbanded.
I found this album in my jazz-fusion phase, and it really fits that genre. The playing was mind blowing, the range of sounds, the rhythms, and how Beck and keyboardist Max Middleton (also credited with major songwriting on the album) intertwine and feed off each other.
The standout track in my view is Freeway Jam. A near 5 minute anthem that just grooves.
One thing that stands out as a player is Beck’s unconventional playing style. First, he holds the guitar differently, the neck is horizontal with the ground, instead of up like a Spanish stance. That gives him different angles of approach in his fretting.
Second, he uses his fingers, no plectrum, and that yields ample tonal variations that he controls with his angle of attack, and gives him a palette that is wide open.
His sense of rhythm, and his ability to fill the space is just perfect.
Jeff didn’t consistently play throughout his career, taking time to restore classic cars, and to do other things, but when he did venture into a studio, or on stage, he was able to bring fresh music, exploring different sounds, pushing the boundaries, and always delivering his own unique takes.
I leave you this, a recent live performance of Freeway Jam.
Jeff Beck is missed, but he left us with much to rejoice.
A super-group is a band comprised of iconic musicians, who come together, usually release one or two albums, before breaking up due to “personality differences” that is indicative of huge egos getting into a pissing match and blowing up. c.f. U.K, Asia, and Blind Faith