TOGETHER&APART: The Beck-Clapton collaboration will undoubtedly be one of the must see shows of this decade, where the artists will perform together and apart. The duo have shared the stage at Festivals and benefits previously, but the Japan shows at the Saitama Super Arena marked the first time they had shared the bill at a major arena. Both artists admitted to having a fantastic time on stage together and press gave rave reviews. The concerts were so spectacular for the musicians and fans alike, that the two decided to team up again at London's prestigious 02 Arena and have quickly followed suit with the U.S. and Canadian dates.


Tomorrow and Friday night shows in New York as well as the shows in Montreal and Toronto are sure to be the epitome of Rock and Roll of Historical proportions.  No doubt there will not be another show like this one.  Bonnaroo Music&Arts Festival have announced Jeff Beck will be playing on the 12th June if you aren't lucky enough to be going to the MSG New York shows.  Of course, Clapton most likely wont be there, but hey, it's Jeff Beck!

ALBUM: JEFF BECK STIRS EMOTION&COMMOTION

Guitar Legend’s First Studio Album In Seven Years Offers Eclectic Mix Including Two Songs With Grammy®-Winner Joss Stone And Several Tracks With Orchestral Accompaniment

For his first studio album in seven years, Grammy-winning guitarist Jeff Beck returns with an eclectic mix of tracks that find the guitar virtuoso accompanied by a handpicked cast of talented musicians, as well as several songs accompanied by a 64-piece orchestra. Rhino unleashes the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s restless genius with EMOTION&COMMOTION. The album will be available on Atco Records, an imprint of Rhino Entertainment, on April 13 at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for a suggested list price of $18.98(CD) and $9.99 (digital).



Beck recorded EMOTION&COMMOTION late last year at Sarm Studios in London with award-winning producers Steve Lipson and Trevor Horn. To create the album’s diverse sound, Beck used a number of musicians,including appearances by frequent collaborators Vinnie Colaiuta(drums), Jason Rebello (keyboards), and Tal Wilkenfeld (bass). The album also includes contributions from a trio of singers: Imelda May(“Lilac Wine”), Olivia Safe (“Elegy For Dunkirk”), and Grammy-winner Joss Stone (“I Put A Spell On You” and “There’s No Other Me”).

To complement the innovative tones he coaxes from his guitar, Beck recorded with a 64-piece orchestra on songs that range from Puccini’s immortal aria “Nessun Dorma” and “Elegy For Dunkirk” from the film Atonement to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard Of Oz and Jeff Buckley’s interpretation of “Corpus Christi Carol.”

Beck says the idea of pairing his guitar with an orchestra evolved from the version of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 he recorded a few years ago. “It turned out amazingly well, but I didn’t want to commit to an entire album of classical music. What appealed to me instead was the idea of bringing together these seemingly contradictory sounds on different kinds of non-classical music.”

In addition to the orchestral pieces, EMOTION&COMMOTION showcases a number of original compositions. For “Hammerhead,” Beck fires the rocker’s opening salvo through his wah-wah pedal before falling into a deep groove carved out by the rhythm section and horn arrangement. At the opposite end of the sonic spectrum, the airy arrangement that elevates “Never Alone” provides a wide-angle sound scape for Beck’s imagination to freely explore the high-flying melody.

After the shows with Clapton, Beck will play South Korea, Hong Kong,Australia, and Japan before returning to America for the U.S. leg of the tour starting mid-April and including an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 1.

For Beck, the new album and tour follows in the wake of a triumphant2009—his most successful year ever. Among the many highlights were a sold-out world tour; his second induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; the release of the platinum-selling Performing This Week… Live At Ronnie Scott’s, which earned a Grammy nomination for “A Day In The Life”; and magnificent performances with his band at the 25thAnniversary Concert of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden.


EMOTION&COMMOTION
Track Listing

1.“Corpus Christi Carol”
2.“Hammerhead”
3.“Never Alone”
4.“Somewhere Over The Rainbow”
5.“I Put A Spell On You”
featuring Joss Stone
6.“Serene”
7.“Lilac Wine” featuring Imelda May
8.“Nessun Dorma”
9.“There’s No Other Me”
featuring Joss Stone
10.“Elegy For Dunkirk”
featuring Olivia Safe

TOUR: The first leg of the U.S. tour will begin on April 16th in SanFrancisco and wrap up at the world famous New Orleans Jazz Festival onMay 1st, with more dates for the second U.S. leg to be announced soon.

Accompanying Beck at these special engagements, as well as the World Tour, will be a brand new touring band, including the Grammy award winning producer and songwriter, Narada Michael Walden on drums, Rhonda Smith on bass and Jason Rebello on keyboards. Narada Michael Smith has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones. Naradawas also featured on and composed four tracks for Beck’s classic 1976album Wired. The compelling Rhonda Smith has played bass for Beyonce,Justin Timberlake and Prince, while keyboardist Jason Rebello has performed previously with Beck, as well as Sting and Chaka Khan.



“I’m thrilled to be working with Narada Michael Walden, he’s an inspiration to me,” Beck said. “When we last worked together we won aGrammy. I’ve been lucky enough to have been working with Jason since2006 and Rhonda came highly recommended by Narada; I was blown awaywhen I heard her play.”

For Beck, the new album and tour follow in the wake of a triumphant2009 - his most successful year ever. Among the many highlights were a sold-out world tour; his second induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; the release of the platinum-selling Performing This Week… Live At Ronnie Scott’s, which earned a Grammy nomination for his breath-taking live performance of “A Day In The Life”; and magnificent performances with his band at the 25th Anniversary Concert of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden.

Jeff Beck’s Emotion&Commotion Tour (First Leg of U.S. Tour):

April

16 San Francisco Nob Hill Masonic Centre

17 Los Angeles Nokia Theatre LA Live

18 Temecula Pechanga Resort&Casino

19 San Diego 4th&B

24 Houston Verizon Wireless Theatre

25 Dallas Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie

27 Tulsa Brady Theatre

28 Kansas City Starlight Theatre

29 St. Louis Fox Theatre

30 Memphis Beale Street Music Festival

May

1 New Orleans Jazz Festival (Gentilly Stage)

More Dates TBA

sources - JeffBeck.com, Billboard, & Erik Thureson