JOE BONAMASSA – Live at the Hollywood Bowl with Orchestra

This stunning live document by renowned blues rocker Joe Bonamassa is nothing short of a musical triumph that brings even more flavor and depth to the brilliant musician’s arsenal of superbly written, emotionally rich tunes. Bonamassa performed at the legendary Hollywood Bowl with a full orchestra back in August last year and for those of us who were unable to attend that gig this stately release is the second-best thing in that its phenomenal mix captures all the nuances, dynamics, and atmosphere of the event. The quality of the entire package – be that the audio or the actual playing – is a dream come true and everyone involved is firing on all cylinders and bringing their A game, and if you close your eyes while immersing yourself in its eleven vibrant and muscular pieces, you could be fooled into thinking the show is happening right in front of you. Joe’s voice is incredibly strong and prominent throughout, and there is an abundance of classy riffs and tasty licks that truly tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul. On top of that you have the orchestral arrangements adding so much color and texture to the already well-written compositions. This is a perfect example of how to create flow, cohesion, and unity in music, and I cannot recall Bonamassa having stamped his songs with as much authority and conviction as he does here, which is saying something. Just listen to the renditions of ‘Prisoner’, ‘The Ballad of John Henry’, ‘No Good Place’, ‘Self Inflicted Wound’, and ‘Heartaches’ and you will see what I mean.

I cannot comment on the DVD/Blu Ray but the actual live album (i.e., the CD) leaves me feeling ecstatic. Fucking hell, this is magnificently majestic . . . and absolutely essential in case you were wondering.