This recording of
Noel Redding and friends is from 1995. It was recorded in Prague, where Noel's friends Frankie La Rocka and Ivan Kral joined Noel on stage to blast out some songs mainly from Noel's time with Jimi Hendrix.
The musicians are skilled making this a well-played performance. Guitarist Ivan Kral has been playing with Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. Kral's wah-wah playing on
Voodoo Child is with love and respect for the original. He has a great feel to his playing - just listen to the old Mountain track
Silver Paper. The vocal from Noel Redding is a bit weak and sounds best, when it's not drowned in the massive guitar wall of distortion.
Overall this is a performance, where you just wish that you had been there. Only the band's take on Lennon's
Cold Turkey and the female guest vocalist on
Red House drag down the overall impression. Otherwise the performance is excellent. The performance has everything that you wish for: Buzzing feedback, distorted guitars, wah-wah pedals and an amazing Rhythm section. Frankie La Rocka and Noel Redding create some of the old magic that Noel and Mitch Mitchell did back in the Hendrix days.
Take a look at the setlist, which is a nostalgic retrospect of a time with peace, love and happiness.
Little Wing is among my all-time favorite songs. The original version performed by Hendrix is so beautiful, because everything about the song form a synthesis. You cannot reproduce that magic feel and therefore I would prefer the original anytime.
Little Wing is performed in an extended version, where Ivan Kral sets his personal mark on the outro solo.
Even though none of these versions match the originals it's a pleasure to listen to Noel Redding perform them. Since Noel Redding was a member of Jimi Hendrix Experience he doesn't need to justify playing the old Hendrix songs.
This type of Rock music will live on forever. Noel Redding recently died, but he has left a significant mark on rock music.
Written by
Michael Saturday, July 26, 2003
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