Few bands are more closely associated with Montreux than Deep Purple and there was simply no other contender when it came to choosing the act to headline the closing night of the 40th Montreux Festival in 2006. The band duly delivered one of their finest live performances, sprinkling songs from their latest album Rapture Of The Deep through a set chock full of their classic tracks. There was even a brand new song Too Much Fun written especially for the occasion and, of course, a show-stopping performance of Smoke On The Water.
One of the most revered jazz-rock fusion bands ever, Dixie Dregs are featured in their sole Montreux appearance from 1978 on this DVD. Featuring the lineup of Steve Morse on guitar, Andy West on bass, drummer Rod Morgenstein, violinist Allen Sloan and keyboardist Mark Parrish, this show includes tracks such as Night Of The Living Dregs, Kathreen, Take It Off The Top and bonus cuts from appearances on American Bandstand and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.
Norman Granz was one of the most important
people in the jazz world, despite the fact that he was not a musician. He started the Jazz At The Philharmonic series, which crisscrossed America from the mid-40’s to 1957. By booking these shows only in clubs that would agree to abandon their whites-only audience policy, he also contributed to the civil rights movement, which was still years away. The Norman Granz Jazz Series are performances of some of the greatest jazz artists in American history.
The Dresden Dolls (Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione) were formed in Boston in 2001. Their unique musical style combines influences from alternative rock and 1930?? German cabaret to create something fresh, exciting and highly theatrical. This live show from London?? recently restored Roundhouse is a visual feast featuring circus acts, gymnasts and cabaret dancers as well as the striking appearance of the Dresden Dolls themselves. The songs in the set are drawn from both their studio albums and also include previously unreleased material.
Eagle Rock Entertainment DVD. Reunited in the early nineties, ELP produced a new album, Black Moon, and began to tour again. In 1997 they embarked on a world tour, which included this performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 7. This is the only film from this tour that is available.
Bryan Ferry has always coupled his own songwriting with a great reputation as an interpreter of other people’s songs. His latest album Dylanesque sees him reinventing a selection of his favorite Bob Dylan songs in the unique Ferry style. Dylanesque Live – The London Sessions shows him performing all the tracks from the album Live in the Studio and also features insights from Bryan on his thoughts regarding the different tracks and why he chose them. The DVD includes both the TV broadcast version, (which went out as Bob Dylan Revisited, and additional material.