Steve Winwood

[Ed S]

I was in Las Vegas for a brief trip, wanted to catch a live music show and stumbled upon the fact that Steve Winwood was playing Friday night at the Pearl Concert Theatre. I guess I would characterize myself as both a Traffic and Winwood fan from afar. I knew of Winwood's hit songs from his solo career and of course have heard a lot of Traffic material over the years on the radio - but the only music I actually have featuring Winwood is Traffic's Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. Thus - I figured I'd be in for a night of Winwood's solo hits, probably some new material and a few Traffic songs - more or less an oldies sort of act rehashing the hits - maybe even in medley form.

Well I only got one Winwood solo hit - Higher Love. There were two Spencer Davis songs - He opened with I'm a Man and Closed with Gimme Some Lovin'. I never knew SDG did I'm a Man until after the show when I looked it up and did not realize that Winwood sang on or that SDG had done Gimme Some Lovin'. So, such for my knowledge of Winwood's career.

I knew I was in for something interesting when I saw that the only keyboard on stage was a B-3. I had expected a keyboard array and maybe a piano. I knew I was in for something special special right from the opener which went into an extended jazz oriented jam. He followed that up with a couple of newer pieces that were well done and then, the band just hit a groove and they went on extravaganza of extended jams - jazz influenced rock, sometimes jam band like. They did some song i did not recognize for perhaps 20 minutes of excellence that was just plain outstanding. They followed that up with an equally impressive and extended version of Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. He did a fabulous extended version of Mr Fantasy as well. There were a couple of songs I recognized as Traffic songs - but don't know the titles - all done with everyone in the band having an opportunity to stretch out.

The band was terrific. The only name I recognized was the percussionist - Cafe. The drummer was excellent, the guitarist top notch. He had an interesting style and technique. The band member who really impressed me was the guy guy who played tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, backup vocals and the B-3 - when Winwood was not behind it. The tenor solos were excellent - added to the jazz orientation of the music -and again - I was surprised that there was a guy on sax at all.

Winwood himself impressed me the most. His voice was in fine for and he really seemed to be enjoying himself. But I had no idea how great a musician he is. He spent most of the night behind the B-3 and was really really good. Certainly not the greasy jazz B-3 of Jimmy Smith - more rock oriented but flavored with jazz - if you know what I mean. He really tore it up on Low Spark and the other long jam I mentioned above. I found it interesting that he actually played the bass pedals on the B-3. I would not have expected that out of a rock guy. He also took a break from the B-3 and did several songs on guitar - with some amazing solos - especially on Mr Fantasy.

I have to say the whole night far exceeded my expectations and I was quite frankly blown away by the quality of the music.

[CJ Shearn]

Winwood is a great musician. One of the highlights of Santana's "Hymns For Peace" DVD/Blu Ray is his version of "Why Can't We Live Together".

[ejp626]

Sounds like a great show, though I do like some of his solo hits quite a bit (Valerie, Arc of a Diver, even Roll with It). It turns out that he is playing Vancouver tomorrow. I hadn't really intended on going, but there are still some relatively cheap seats in the balcony, so maybe I will. Have to check it with the wife though...

What I am really hoping for is another Bowie tour coming to the West Coast, though he usually plays pretty much straight-forward rock, not jazz-rock.

[A Lark Ascending]

Buy this with confidence:

I'd paid no attention to SW since the Traffic days but this is tremendous - sounds like an early 70s record with Santana-esque guitar and lots of blowing.

I don't buy many rock records these days but this one knocked my socks off.

Got scared off what came after (apart from the live disc with Clapton which is great fun but a rather different animal) by lukewarm reviews - wonder what others think?

Edited November 12, 2012 by A Lark Ascending

[Jim Alfredson]

Yes, the album above is fantastic. Winwood is an incredible musician and still at the top of his game.

[Ed S]

Sounds like a great show, though I do like some of his solo hits quite a bit (Valerie, Arc of a Diver, even Roll with It). It turns out that he is playing Vancouver tomorrow. I hadn't really intended on going, but there are still some relatively cheap seats in the balcony, so maybe I will. Have to check it with the wife though...

What I am really hoping for is another Bowie tour coming to the West Coast, though he usually plays pretty much straight-forward rock, not jazz-rock.

FWIW, my wife - who never heard of Traffic or Steve Winwood was with me and she said she enjoyed it. But maybe she was being nice to me as I really did not want to go to Vegas. So we compromised and went to Vegas. (ha ha)

Actually the compromise was a day trip to Death Valley and the Winwood show. She's 11 years younger than me and our tastes in music are quite different. I've dragged her to enough shows and know her well enough to know when she's BS'ing me - so I think her endorsement was sincere. When I dragged her to Return to Forever - well, that's a different story....

We both like Blues however!

Long story short - it's not a must see in the same way that a Pink Floyd reunion Tour would be must see. But if you're not doing anything and like Winwood - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Ed S]

Buy this with confidence:

I'd paid no attention to SW since the Traffic days but this is tremendous - sounds like an early 70s record with Santana-esque guitar and lots of blowing.

I don't buy many rock records these days but this one knocked my socks off.

Got scared off what came after (apart from the live disc with Clapton which is great fun but a rather different animal) by lukewarm reviews - wonder what others think?

Thanks for the recommendation. As I usually do after seeing a show and I realize I've missed out on a lot of an artist's catalog I'll go out and buy a few CDs. This one will be on the list.

[jeffcrom]

Enjoyed reading your account of the Winwood show. As a teenager, the first song I remember learning to play (on piano) by hearing it on the radio was "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys."

Edited November 13, 2012 by jeffcrom

[kinuta]

I first saw him with The Spencer Davis Group at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. He was only about 16 or17 at the time but he totally owned the band. His vocals and piano work were very impressive, it was obvious he had talent to spare.

I recall an amazing take on Georgia On My Mind, with him on piano. I couldn't believe he was still a teenager - like me !

[JETman]

Winwood's always been a favorite of mine, and to me, is one of the great rock/blues musicians. One of the great moments (and ironies) in music is him belting out "I'm a Man" at the tender young age of 16. In line with Yes during the same time period, those 3 consecutive Traffic albums (John Barleycorn Must Die, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, and Shootout at Fantasy Factory) are stone cold classics for me.

[PHILLYQ]

He never recorded with them , but IIRC he went on tour with the Fania All-Stars as part of the band.

[BFrank]

Another thumbs up for the "About Time" album. The best solo album from him in a long time.

I've found many of this solo albums sort of "routine," unfortunately, but he's still a major talent, for sure.

His recent work with Clapton at both the Crossroads Festival and the joint tour/album they did was also a high point for both of them in recent years.

[ejp626]

Sounds like a great show, though I do like some of his solo hits quite a bit (Valerie, Arc of a Diver, even Roll with It). It turns out that he is playing Vancouver tomorrow. I hadn't really intended on going, but there are still some relatively cheap seats in the balcony, so maybe I will.

I did make it to the show. It was quite good. The set list is fairly stable from the other shows, though he substituted Back in the High Life for Pearly Queen. I don't know if this was the first time (or perhaps he did it in Seattle as well). I think it was a good switch. He seems to be trying to mix the 80s songs up a bit but clearly enjoys the Traffic stuff the most. Light Up or Leave Me Alone was epic, and Low Spark was suitably drawn out. Dear Mr. Fantasy was done as an encore with Winwood on guitar, the winds player on organ and just the main drummer. It certainly never occurred to me that I would get to see so much Traffic material live -- and that it didn't sound like an oldies tour.