JIMI PLAYS MONTEREY

Together with the Woodstock concert, the Monterey performance is probably one of the most mediatized of the great man. In this case as well, there are two sources available: the video and the audio which is discussed here.

It is of course always better to SEE him play, but at times I like to just listen to him while working on the PC or driving for instance. And this live set is just splendid. It all starts with the Brian Jones introduction and powerfully goes on with a very strong version of ''Killing Floor'' (maybe one of the best).

The second highlight is a beautiful rendition of a Dylan cover (''Like A Rolling Stone''). IMHHO, this song is way better than ''All Along The Watchtower''. This title is fully revisited and revitalized. Exactly what a cover should be: to provide a new angle to an existing song.

Almost each track is a killer and the cover of the B.B. King ''Rock Me Baby'' is not the least achieved during the set. It is all enchantment to listen to this concert, even if it might sound too short in comparison with a few other ones (Woodstock, Wight etc.). The band is in top form although this concert came quite early in their career.

There are some tracks which will only be featured in this set (''Can You See Me'', ''Rock Me Baby''). And to my knowledge, it is the only official live version of the sweet blues ''The Wind Cries Mary''.

The last two songs are also highlights but for different reasons. While ''Purple Haze'' will be a live anthem and also a hit which suffice to itself, the ''Wild Thing'' moment from this audio recording is of course over shadowed by the video pictures and the famous set on fire to his guitar. This sequence has to be seen to be fully appreciated but even so, it remains a good Hendrix moment.

For stars for this huge testimonial of an early ''Experience'' concert. A great experience indeed.