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Live In Gdańsk – The Basic Details
As any regular reader of The
Blog will know, David's next album is Live
In Gdańsk, a double live album plus concert
DVD to be released in September.
We will be listing all the details of all the formats
in a dedicated space shortly, but suffice to say that
it will be available in versions to fit every pocket.
The 2-CD audio-only version represents the August
2006 concert from the Gdańsk Shipyard, featuring
David and his stellar touring band plus a 40-strong
orchestra. The final concert of the On An Island
tour in front of 50,000 people, it can be seen as
well as heard on the 3-disc version, which includes
an extra concert DVD (114 minutes long) and Gdańsk
Diary, a 37-minute filmed documentary. All of
the show is included on the CDs, except for Wot's... Uh
The Deal?, which does however make an appearance over
the concert end-credits on the DVD.
There is also a 4-disc version, packaged, like the
2-disc and the 3-disc, in a carbon-neutral cardboard
wallet, with a 12-page booklet including credits and
concert photos, plus a 5-disc package, presented in
a cardboard box with bonus collectable extras. The
4-disc version is the same as the 3-disc version,
but with an additional DVD of live performances from
the Mermaid Theatre, the AOL Sessions, and Abbey Road.
It also has three brand-new tracks performed as live
jams by David with Richard Wright, Steve DiStanislao
and Guy Pratt, filmed in David's barn. In addition,
it also has the whole On An Island album in
5.1 surround sound audio, on Dolby Digital or DTS
format.
As if that wasn't enough, the 5-disc version
has all of the aforementioned discs, plus an extra
audio CD of live tracks recorded on the Summer 2006
tour, and a 24-page booklet, reproduction concert
memorabilia and a 2-sided poster.
Finally, for vinyl junkies, the entire concert will
be available in a box of LPs: 8 sides will be the
concert, including Wot's... Uh The Deal?, while
the 5th disc holds two Barn Jams, On The
Turning Away live from Venice, and two songs from
the Live From Abbey Road sessions. You also
get a 'Webpass', which allows one complete download
of the whole five discs in MP3 format to a computer
of your choice.
Need more details? Click on this handy link to The
Blog, where there is a grid cross-referencing
the information.
A No Bull Endeavour: 'Atom Heart Mother' Live.
As imagined, David's involvement in Ron Geesin's presentation
of the Atom Heart Mother Suite took the performance
to another level. Saturday's show, which showcased
Ron's wide range of talents, including improvisation,
composing, experimental musicianship, and even poetry,
was well-received, and the Atom Heart Mother Suite
(plus humorous anecdotal introduction) which comprises
the second half of the show was a palpable hit.
However, from the Sunday afternoon runthrough onwards,
David's presence seemed to be the factor that finally
made all the disparate elements of the Suite coalesce.
Critics of the Suite have noted the amalgam of rock
band instrumentation with choir, brass ensemble and
solo cello, hardly the average accompaniment to a
band album in 1970; but in 2008, with David's bluesy
lead guitar and lyrical lap steel weaving in and out
of the orchestrated elements, it all seemed not only
vital, but far more genre-busting than any contemporary
competition. Certainly you wouldn't have found any
disagreement in the hall as a packed house rose to
its feet at the final chord. Ron Geesin at the piano,
Caroline Dale, the Canticum choir, Mun Floyd, the
brass section and in particular conductor Mark Forkgen,
all had the confidence of a successful previous night's
show, and were able to build on it to produce a tour
de force.
David, playing one of the prototype versions of the
forthcoming Fender 'Black Strat' model, reminded
the audience yet again what musical guitar
playing is – emotional, exciting, moving and
thrilling. |
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