REUNION - LIVE IN TOKYO

My fascination for the unique progrock musician Eddie Jobson started early 1977 when I listened to Viva! from Roxy Music. The compelling electric violin solo in the end of Out Of The Blue blew me away, it sounded like the Balkan gypsies on fire, how exciting! I got even more fascinated during the concerts from UK in 1979 and Jethro Tull in 1980: watching Eddie Jobson playing on the transparent violin, with the lights shining from behind on his his violin and angel-like face, magical! From the late Eighties Jobson touring seemed part of progrock history, but in 2009 Eddie Jobson decided to tour again, after almost 25 years: with the Eddie Jobson Band (2011), with the late John Wetton in UK (2011-2012 and 2015) and in 2017 with Marc Bonilla during the Fallen Angels tour (Keith Emerson tribute). To my delight the first UK tour (named the Reunion tour) with John Wetton has been put on DVD. So now every proghead can experience the unique Eddie Jobson, with his jawdroping work on keyboards, and especially the soli on the magical transparent electric violin.

This DVD contains a gig during the Japan tour in April 2011, unfortunately the Japanese crowd doesn't show much excitement, no orgastic roars or spontaneous applauding. The lightshow is also not very spectacular, it looks very functional. Except during Alaska with layers of wonderful blue light and in some tracks white lights behind Eddie Jobson. John Wetton plays inspired (still a strong and distinctive voice), backed by the excellent drummer Marco Minnemann (he does a great job doing the Bill Bruford and Terry Bozzio beats) and guitarist Alex Machacek, he easily switches from Fripperish to the typical Holdsworth sound. And he adds a nice flavour to the track Time To Kill. But my focus is on Eddie Jobson, dressed in black (like the other 'men in black'), with small dark glasses and still that long and thin, angel-like hair. In Presto Vivace we can witness one of the most dazzling synthesizer soli in progrock, with shots from several angles and from above, an excellent idea.

My absolute highlight is the rendition of the epic King Crimson track Starless, Eddie Jobson adds a breathtaking extra dimension with his electric violin. The interplay with the electric guitar is captivating, building to that exciting heavy and bombastic part. And Jobson replacing the saxophone with his distorted electric violin is mindblowing!

In Carrying No Cross the varied keyboard work (swirling Hammond, sparkling piano and flashy synthesizers flights) is awesome and the band rises very high to the occasion. The long solo on the transparent electric violin solo can be seen on multi-screen, here Eddie Jobson turns into the 'Jimi-Hendrix-of-the-electric-violin', how spectacular, innovative and adventurous. The subtle green light on Jobson and his transparent violin looks magical, this is the unsurpassed Eddie Jobson! In the King Crimson cover One More Red Nightmare, the catchy Caesar's Palace Blues and the compelling The Only Thing She Needs more spectacular and virtuosic work on keyboards and the electric violin from Eddie Jobson. He clearly enjoys being on stage, with his good friend John Wetton. In the final track Rendezvous 6:02 these two progrock veterans deliver a wonderful rendition, Wetton his melancholical voice is surrounded by sparkling piano runs, a great conclusion with tasteful camera work.

This DVD is 'An Evening Of Classic Prog Music Plus', due to the outstanding performance from the musicians, and especially Eddie Jobson his sensational work on the magical electric violin, a masterpiece, legendary prog!

Share this UK review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TenYearsAfter
• Report this review (#1903458)
• Buy UK music online with PA partners
• Show all UK MP3/Stream
• Go to UK page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Reunion - Live in Tokyo page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for UK related discussions