Recorded in 2023, with a set list of favourites, Joe Bonamassa and his music is given a different direction with the power of a 40 piece orchestra.

Release Date:  Available Now

Label: J and R Adventures

Format:  CD / Vinyl / Digital

Joe Bonamassa , child prodigy turned blues legend, has always had a healthy respect for British blues and rock artists.

The orchestral overture has a movie soundtrack flavour to open up this amazing live performance. An exciting pulsating Curtain Call  reveals a bunch of British influences; Zeppellin and Floyd amongst them. This riff laden opener , enhanced by orchestral soundscape, is breath- taking,

Joe shows his more soulful side on Self Inflicted Wounds, this heart-rending track is has more power through the brass section of the orchestra but it is still his wailing guitar solo that steals the show.

Although the  orchestra is an unlikely home for blues music, they are fully settled and  living in harmony on No Good Place For The Lonely.  Deeper guitar solos, churchy organ blend well in this pounding track. When he brings out his  fret board wizardry  to  bring things to a stunning climax  the audience must have been  open – mouthed  with awe at what they were hearing.

Ball Peen Hammer shows his adventurous experimental side. If your looking for an off the radar new sound for the blues this will appeal, with deep brass and fluttering flute featuring. It works for me.

The ballad Last Matador of Bayonne is a track to wallow in and just let it gently flow around you with Joe at his most masterful. Pure emotion  oozes from his fingers.

From his Dust Bowl album and also released on video is The Prisoner. When strings are added to Need Your Love So Bad (Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac) it lost to me some of its natural blues feeling but not so on this track, the violins are used sparingly and appropriately to add to this already powerful blues number.

If ever a blues song was written begging for orchestral arrangement then If Heartaches Were Nickels is it. With a subtle oboe creeping in and a swirling string arrangement it is an object of beauty even though its left till late on the setlist it is well worth the waiting with horns bursting in triumphantly near it’s climax.

The Ballad Of John Henry is an utter powerhouse of classical Bonamassa, you’ll be out of breath just listening to this album, the live experience must have been mind-boggling. Orchestrally the kitchen sink is thrown out with even a Mozartian ending . An audience in raptures. is captured

Throughout the whole performance Bonamassa’s vocals  are dynamic  and reach into your soul  and they remain strong right to the end in Twenty Four Hour Blues with his stinging guitar solo touch every quarter of the Hollywood Bowl arena .

When a grand piano hails the instantly recognisable opening notes to concert favourite finale  Sloe Gin you know you are in for something unique. Shimmering violins are added,  majestic trombone and then of course the to-cry-for  Bonamassa trademark screaming for solace solo 

If his upcoming British tour in the Spring of 2025 is performed with orchestra then you can rest assured you are  in for a wonderful evening.

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