IN CONCERT WITH THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

It needs to be said up front that much the better way to experience this event is through the DVD. The visual aspects of the performance in London's' Royal Albert Hall do much to enhance the overall impact of this unique event. That said, this still a worthwhile investment.

The centrepiece is a new and updated rendition of Jon Lord's "Concerto for group and orchestra". This 50 minute opus is rooted in classical music, the band playing a supporting role for much of the time. Anyone looking for the heavy rock of the band will find little to detain them here. In terms of classical music, it is hard to see this sitting alongside the great composers. While it is competently composed, and flawlessly executed, it is dull and lacking in focus.

Prior to the "Concerto" we are treated to fine vocal performances by Miller Anderson and Sam Brown. In both cases, the songs they sing are reflective, with sympathetic orchestration. Only Lord from the band is present at this point, the others joining in at various points. Ian Paice's jazz band interpretation of "Wring that neck" seems out of place, and rather at odds with the evolving atmosphere.

The later part of the performance consist of a more rock selection. The orchestra play second fiddle on more recent numbers such as "Ted the mechanic" and "Watching the sky". Steve Morse's riff and Ian Gillan's fine vocal performance on the superb "Sometimes I feel like screaming" distinguish this recent song as a future classic DP song.

Inevitably we close with an orchestrated "Smoke on the water", with everyone, including there audience, trying to show that they do, honestly know how to rock out.

It is more than a little ironic that the "Concerto" section is in fact the weakest part of this memorable gig. Fans of the band should be aware when considering this album that it is not by any means a typical Deep Purple release. With that in mind, it is nonetheless worthy of investigation.

A that time, the original release consisted of only three movements written by Jon. These were pure classic moments interupted with a solo of either Ritchie, Jon or Ian (Paice). Fortunately, it has been expanded with a second CD with pure Purple songs recorded on the same evening (see my review for "Concerto For Group & Orchestra" for more detailed info if you want ).

I would divide this album into three sections :

First one is similar to its counterpart from 1969, and I am only interested in "Movement 3" which features a nice guitar and drum solo.

The second section is a classic rendition of some Purple and non-Purple tracks. The orchestra is in the front line while some special guests make their appearance. Poor. All the way through.

The only section I can stand is what I would call a Purple concert with a background orchestra. Two tracks from "Perpendicular" : "Ted The Mechanic" and "Sometimes I feel like screaming" One from "Abandon" : "Watching The Sky".

The best song on this album is IMO their extended rendition for "Pictures Of Home" from "Machine Head". Although the Orchestra's intro is almost unhearable and useless for about 1'50", when the real song starts, it is a great moment. This song is my second fave on the original album (together with "Highway Star" and it is not too bad a mix this time). Jon plays a good key solo and Ian is hitting his drum like crazy. The guitar finale is a bit jammy but OK.

The closing number is "Smoke On The Water". Special guests coming back on stage to perform a good version of this emblematic song. Not too bad as one could have imagined. Almost the original format : no too much "smoooooooke..." from the audience (thanks) !

I guess it was the best way to close this performance.

Rating this effort is quite difficult for me. Since I do not like classic music. Fortunately, there is what I call the third section. Still, only two little stars.

Yeah, it's pretty clear right from the beginning of the sleeve where Jon Lord wrote that it's basically about his dream to bring alive the score he made thirty years ago when he with Deep Purple experimented "Concerto for Group and Orchestra". As the story goes, he said that it was triggered by someone named as Marco de Goeij, a young Dutch composer, who came to see him in Rotterdam before a Deep Purple concert and told him that, as the score of the concerto was lost (how come, Jon?). Marco offered to recreate the lost score by listening the recording and watching the video - over and over again. Of course, with the help of Mr Lord on parts that Marco could not grab it. So, the result was the concerto (again) of Marco's astonishing act of dedication.

To make it more appealing to modern crowd, the band made a concert at The Royal Albert Hall on 25th and 26th September 1999 with some additional celebrities like Ronnie James Dio, Sam Brown and also Steve Morse Band. As I go through Disc One which basically comprising the guest appearances, I can say that this is an excellent performance. It starts beautifully with a mellow "Pictured within" (8:38) where Jon Lord plays pivotal role in piano. It's then followed by Sam Brown to sing "Wait a while" (6:44), written by Jon Lord and Sam Brown. The excellent parts really when Ronnie James Dio takes the vocal job for a melodic and nice "Sitting in a dream" (4:01) followed by "Love is all" (4:40) which has good orchestration. The song that I do not like especially with the way Gillan's singing is "Via Miami" (4:52) - am not interested at all to enjoy this track.

"That's why God is singing the blues" (4:03) main attraction is when Steve Morse plays the acoustic guitar solo - it's really good! But not Ian Gillan's singing - may I am getting bored already with his singing style. "Take it off the top" (4:43) is performed excellently by Steve Morse band where the bass guitar playing by Dave LaRue is really good, combined by drum work played by Van Romaine. It's an energetic performance and very enjoyable.

I have to pay more attention to the last two tracks of Disc One. "Wring that neck" (4:38) appears brilliant with full orchestra added. In its original composition, this track has already been a true symphonic progressive rock music. This time the arrangements is much richer and it does make this Disc One really worth listening because this track offers great energy, complexity and drive. For those of you who love early prog, you must enjoy this track. This is one of Deep Purple's excellent tracks.

"Pictures of home" (9:26) is another favorite of mine where with this version the music starts with an orchestra followed dynamically by a drumwork of Ian Paice that sounds really great to start this wonderfully crafted composition. The inclusion of orchestra plus brass section have made the textures are better than any other version. Steve Morse performs his guitar solo flawlessly and stunningly. He is one of talented guitarists that I know. This concluding track of Disc One represents the best performance of Deep Purple in this live CD.

On Disc Two, I enjoy the first three tracks which basically three movements of "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" even though I'm probably not good in giving reasonable comparison between this "modern" version with those that was performed 30 years ago. So, I just enjoy these three movements and let the stream of orchestra music flow naturally into my mind. Of course, I like the dynamics of these orchestra as there are many breaks in some segments - typical in any classical composition.

The rock band continues to appear with track 4 "Ted The Mechanic" which has good riffs through guitar followed with great musical groove. It's a good track, performed excellently by the band. "Watching The Sky" is also a good rocker delivered excellently by the band. The band concludes the show with their legendary song "Smoke On The Water".

Overall, this is an excellent to any prog music collection. I have always admired Jon Lord's passion on orchestral arrangement as I can see clearly through his solo albums. Even though Deep Purple musical direction opted to move into solid hard rock music through the release of "In Rock", Jon Lord's love to classical music has never stopped. I recommend this live album for those who can appreciate the marriage between classical and rock music. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

This pretty new live album by the Purps, features a decent set-list, however, knowing Deep Purple, they always make stunning live perfomances.

Disc 1 featuring a bit of what the members of Deep Purple have being doing in different projects, the only song really being worthwhile from that bag, is the version of Take it off the Top which originally written by Dixie Dregs, full of great solos, and well the composition, as you should already know, is great. Then, they bring two Deep Purple tunes, the bluesy Wring that Neck, a bit jazzed-up with the symphony, and then there's the energetic, and slightly modified version of Pictures of Home, with Ian Paice shining like always.

Onto with Disc 2, you got the Concerto resurrected, sounding really fresh, and better done musically in most of the aspects, mainly the solos. The compositions of the Concerto's as a whole is a mixed bag, however separately Concerto Movement 1 standouts with its really grandiose composition, a real masterpiece of classical and hard rock which any rock fan must listen to once in their lives. The other two movements on the other hand are pretty hit or miss, mainly the 2nd, which features bad-suited vocals from Ian. Anyways after the refreshing resurrection of the Concerto, you got a great live version from, minor-hit, Ted the Mechanic; there's Watching the Sky from their mediocre album, Abandon, however this version of the song is quite bearable; after that comes another classic tune from Purpendicular, Sometimes I Feel Like I Screaming, with excellent guitar playing from virtuoso Steve Morse, as well as very strong vocals from Ian Gillan. Finally ending with the classic of all classics, Smoke on the Water, in which this is my favorite version of it, surely because it's the first one I heard, but the live feel is so present and the power of Steve's guitar and Ian's singing, it's so well done.

Like I said in the brief introductory paragraph, Deep Purple always make stunning live performances, so you really can't expect them doing bad stuff live, however, almost the entirety of Disc 1, is boring due to not being really Purple tunes. Still Disc 2, makes this album worthy for buying, with the updated Concerto, and some few modern tunes by them, done great.

3 stars