SEPT/OCT 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Robert Essel Photography JEFF BECK A restless explorer is still fi nding new territory to conquer

SINCE THE MOMENT HE REPLACED it out, and the band and crew were in the way he sounded amazed me. I felt that if I Eric Clapton as lead guitarist for the rehearsal studio. [Drummer] Vinnie [Colaiuta] could do with my guitar what he can do with FULL PAGE AD Yardbirds in March 1965, Jeff Beck has was writing e-mails, not listening to what we his voice, then I’d have something pretty never stopped innovating, pushing ever were doing, until I played the fi rst few lines of special. It worked. outward the boundaries of what can be it. And he folded the top down on his laptop expressed through an electric guitar. His and he went, “That’s great, unbelievable.” How did you fi nd the singers? career over the last 45 years has found him Goosebumps! Because the tune is familiar. This album is a combination of elements, so exploring jazz fusion, rockabilly, blues and With this song, I just tried to get the emotion it felt right to have vocalists perform some practically any other style you can name. out of the notes I hear. tracks. Imelda May has this pure, effortless On his latest, Emotion & Commotion, and powerful quality to her voice, and I Beck collaborated for the fi rst time with How did you decide to cover Puccini’s think she should be heard. Joss Stone is an a symphony orchestra. “Nessun Dorma?” amazing performer. She is a cross between I played “Nessun Dorma” the fi rst time last Tina Turner and Janis Joplin. When she sang Why did you include the orchestra? summer in Viareggio [Italy] with just my guitar “I Put a Spell on You,” I knew she was the I always wanted to make an album with an and Jason on keyboards. It is such a powerful perfect artist to sing the track. Joss put her orchestra, a classical album with a twist. and iconic song that everyone recognizes. own mark on “There’s No Other Me,” and I Combining the sounds of an orchestra with can play to complement her style. Olivia Safe my guitar has created some incredible music. What does Jason bring to the sound? has a beautiful operatic voice that enhances This album is different than any album I have Jason is just fantastic, and I am fortunate to the orchestra and lifts “Elegy for Dunkirk.” done before, and playing with an orchestra have worked with him for a number of years. took my playing to another level. He adapts to anything and everything, and What’s your advice to new guitarists? everyone in this new band just complements Stay true to the music that speaks to What’s your approach to a classic like each other’s playing. With this combination, you, and practice. I always put pressure “Somewhere Over the Rainbow?” I have my dream band. on myself and challenge my playing. I’d [Keyboardist] Jason [Rebello] said one day, hope that I have, and will always, evolve. “Why don’t we play ‘Over the Rainbow’ at There are a couple of songs on the I continue to challenge myself with each the end of the show for a change?” I was record associated with Jeff Buckley. album and stay true to the music I am not keen at all, but we tried it out one day. I was given a Jeff Buckley album, and when interested in playing. I distinctly remember where we fi rst tried I heard it, the simplicity and beauty of the –Chris Neal

‘I always put pressure on myself and challenge my playing.’

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