THIS captivating new album takes us back to 1967 during the Summer of Love when nearly 200,000 concert-goers converged on the California seaside hamlet of Monterey.Live At Monterey was recorded when both American music festivals andHendrix were younger, faster and more ebullient.
With Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, this live show is probably Hendrix's most together, hit-crammed and enjoyable recorded gig.
With a special stereo mix by Eddie Kramer, the sound is nice and clear.It takes us away from the 60s mud of much of Hendrix's work.
Even though he had become a star in Britain the year before, Hendrix showed up at Monterey as a virtual unknown. But, unsurprisingly, that changed soon after.
The album starts off with Brian Jones, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, quietly introducing his friend before Hendrix opens with abone-crushing blues standards by Howlin' Wolf, Killing Floor that launched Hendrix's takeover of the US.
Running full throttle, Hendrix rolls out future classics like The Leave's Hey Joe, later escalating the intensity of the set with his signature song Purple Haze.
Even early in his career, Hendrix had a finely-honed command of dynamics.
Here, the muted verses play off the rousing refrain. The image on the album cover of Hendrix lighting up his guitar at theMonterey Pop Festival, is more than evocative of an inflammatory musician famous for torching his guitars.
A perfect Hendrix "live" performance. – NST 24/02/2008
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