KEN HENSLEY & LIVE FIRE - LIVE!!

For me Ken Hensley is a Hammond Hero, I grew up with the legendary Uriah Heep albums Salisbury, Look At Yourself and Live, and I still love that exciting Heavy Prog music! In 2000 I witnessed a gig from Ken Hensley, with singer John Lawton, I was blown away by Hensley his stage presence: with the unsurpassed Hammond organ but also using the acoustic - and slide guitar and his pleasant vocals. So when I read about this interesting Live Fire project I was very eager to listen to their double live CD.

The setlist contains tracks from the Live Fire studio albums, Hensley his solo work and of course the Classic Heep era. Well, Hensley and his excellent band have done a great job, I did not only enjoy the Classic Heep versions but in fact all other songs. Hensley deliver his awesome work on the omnipresent Hammond organ, especially in Circle Of Hands, the epic and compelling July Morning and psychedelic sounding, extended Stealin' (in fact the only Hammond solo during this concert). But also tender piano runs, in the wonderful The Last Dance and moving ballad Rain, really very beautiful. Another strong element on this 2-CD is the guitarwork: a long and moving solo in The Cruse, exciting wah wah in the crowd pleaser Look At Yourself, Stealin' and the Heep Headbanger Gypsy (blistering sound), slide guitar (by Hensley?) in Circle Of Hands and The Last Dance and warm acoustic rhythm guitar in The Wizard and the folky Lady In Black . And the interplay with the keyboards is outstanding during the entire concert, recorded in 2012 in Switzerland and Germany. Unfortunately not in Holland. I would have enjoyed it very much, almost on the same level as last year with Uriah Heep during their Look At Yourself Anniversary tour.

So check out this 2-CD if you like Uriah Heep or Heavy Prog/harder-edged melodic rock.