Tal and Co. at Wesfest

Radicus · #1 03-01-2010, 01:09 PM

I'm in a rush but here are a few pics of Tal's band last night:

SpasticFingers · #2 03-02-2010, 03:58 PM

Thanks very much for the excellent photos. When you get a chance please tell us about the show. Did they perform any songs from Jeff Beck's catalog, or strictly from their own recordings? Was anything mentioned about future work or their recent exit from JB's band? I'm anxious to hear any ROIO if they're available.

Radicus · #3 03-03-2010, 12:35 AM

It was a fairly intimate gig at the Roxy, prob less than 200 people. The sound people had it together for the TWB. Bass was pure and sweet, Noy was loud and up front like a fiery young DiMeola and what can I say about Vinny, kick thumping in my chest and sizzles up top. He brought a new feel to the vamps and he did some off tempo stuff that was amazing. He and Tal just click. Keyboardist John Beasley was the glue, not quite as imaginative as Geoff on the record or the rest of the band that night IMO but he did have that post bop thing going on. I hope this wasn't a one-off gig. They did seem to be feeling each other out a bit and I'd love to see them after a few more gigs together.

IIRC, they only did maybe six or seven songs from her last album. Nothing else. But since they were missing the sax, and with Vinny and Oz the feel was way more fusion. I loved it! It brought out the guitar and at times Oz was really on, but It was disappointing that he was behind a couple of chart stands and I couldn't see his fretwork.

She didn't say much between songs, just basically thanked the fest for having her and introduced the songs. She was definitely the leader up there and looked like she was digging it as always. Some tasty solo work and her quicksilver melodic delivery is inspiring.

They played for about an hour altogether. All in all a great show that left us wanting more.

I got this with my point and shoot camera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ClQkdmasyE

might take a while to process...

SpasticFingers · #4 03-03-2010, 09:34 PM

NOW I feel like I've been there.

Thanks very much for the review and the video, both were well done.
The band sounds great, and I'd love to see them tour. As you said, Oz was hidden behind that music stand which was annoying. His style reminds me a bit more of Alan Holdsworth than Al Dimeola.

JimmyM · #5 03-04-2010, 12:07 AM

wow, it's a band full of bandleaders! that's probably a good idea for tal to do that. she's new at the bandleading thing and could use some good advice from vets.

and next week you can see them performing as the oz noy band, and then they're the vinnie coliauta band

VroomVroom · #6 03-04-2010, 05:32 PM

Radicus, thanks so much for sharing. Both the audio and video quality from your P&S are amazing. Great to hear John Beasley, and Vinnie is just....heck I don't know, stoopid-good? Kinda' hard to keep coming up with fresh words to describe his playing.

Dr. Cheese · #7 03-04-2010, 07:51 PM

This should really settle it about Tal's ability. She sounds as good as any bassist at that level I've heard. She's got her own voice, and I enjoy it.

Honk'n_down-low · #8 03-04-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

This should really settle it about Tal's ability. She sounds as good as any bassist at that level I've heard. She's got her own voice, and I enjoy it.

=+1 She's killing it!

Great player and you can see her getting better and better.

Honk'n_down-low · #9 03-04-2010, 08:12 PM

Love Vinny, but I had to fix that Picture.

Ian Perge · #10 03-05-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Radicus, thanks so much for sharing. Both the audio and video quality from your P&S are amazing. Great to hear John Beasley, and Vinnie is just....heck I don't know, stoopid-good? Kinda' hard to keep coming up with fresh words to describe his playing.

Ditto, +1, whatever the kidz are saying these days!

I hope this was taped for release like WesFest 1+2 were. Even with only 2-4 songs per band (depending on where in the lineup they were) I've found the first two to be some of the best bass-centric material that have come out in those years. As well as some extremely talented and well-known musicians giving their time to a cause that's certainly a worthy one. I'll simply bring up the opportunity to either make a direct donation to the Wes Wehmiller Memorial Endowed Scholarship for a deserving Berklee College Of Music Bassist, or by purchasing the WesFest 1 or 2 DVDs, "Wicked: Music From The WesFest Community", or "I, Claudius - Bleed: the Wes Demos" (Wes' wonderfully sardonic mid-to-late '90s "Anti-Grunge" killer original band), the proceeds of all also go directly to Wes' Berklee scholarship in tribute to a fantastic bassist and friend that left far too soon...

Wes Wehmiller: September 12, 1971 – January 30, 2005

Radicus · #11 03-07-2010, 04:04 PM

Good point, Ian, I will add the details for donating to Westfest on the description of the 3 youtube videos I uploaded. You put it very eloquently, this *was* a Berklee alum tribute of sorts to a talent lost too soon.

BTW, I did see one pro cameraman there in front of me, so we can hope for a general release. I stopped filming after the first three songs. Interestingly, most of the hits to the videos so far have been from drumming websites, fo gigure...

narud · #12 03-07-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radicus

Good point, Ian, I will add the details for donating to Westfest on the description of the 3 youtube videos I uploaded. You put it very eloquently, this *was* a Berklee alum tribute of sorts to a talent lost too soon.

BTW, I did see one pro cameraman there in front of me, so we can hope for a general release. I stopped filming after the first three songs. Interestingly, most of the hits to the videos so far have been from drumming websites, fo gigure...

vinnie on drums.......not that surprising

XXL · #13 03-07-2010, 06:39 PM

Right On!! Thanks for the clip Radicus

pasta4lnch · #14 03-07-2010, 06:46 PM

wow - great clip!! Killin'!!

Radicus · #15 04-01-2010, 06:35 PM

I should have stuck to only putting up Serendipity. I got a message from Youtube that Tal Wilkenfeld asked that the 3 vids be pulled. So I deleted them. I really hope it was because the Berklee people are gearing up to release a dvd. Oh well. One would think it was a good advert for all concerned.

This well-intentioned fanboy has learned a lesson!

SpasticFingers · #16 04-01-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radicus

I should have stuck to only putting up Serendipity. I got a message from Youtube that Tal Wilkenfeld asked that the 3 vids be pulled. So I deleted them. I really hope it was because the Berklee people are gearing up to release a dvd. Oh well. One would think it was a good advert for all concerned.

This well-intentioned fanboy has learned a lesson!

We appreciated the views nonetheless, and I'm sure that there were no actual financial losses incurred. The same audience that viewed those videos will be looking to purchase a better professionally made copy. I'm sure Tal and her management are reasonable. Her fans are eagerly waiting for more material, that's for sure.