REUNION - LIVE IN TOKYO

In 2009 John Wetton and Eddie Jobson joined to tour under the name U-Z Project (Ultimate Zero), with guests musicians including the likes of Tony Levin, Trey Gunn, Marco Minnemann or Greg Howe, playing music from U.K., King Crimson and other compositions by their members. The experience encouraged Wetton and Jobson to go for what could be called a proper U.K. Reunion and tour as from 2011.

U.K. are one of the few of the 'classic dinosaurs' which I could never see live, their video material is rather scarce, and unfortunately I also missed seeing them live in their recent reunion, so seeing them in this DVD was like an old pending item in my wishing list finally being ticked.

We don't have Bruford or Bozzio at the drum kit but the great Marco Minnemann does an outstanding job, and few guitarists could be a better choice for filling in for Allan Holdsworth than the Austrian Alex Machacek.

The filming and sound quality are clearly sub-par for such a recent release, but for me, the quality of the music and performance more than compensate for that. This is superb Prog played masterfully.

The set list could not be much better, the tandem "In The Dead Of Night ? By The Light Of Day ? Presto Vivace ? Reprise" opens the show leaving no doubt that these guys are in for serious business. Wetton's voice is in great shape and Machaceck replicates Holdsworth faithfully even if a bit too clinical, not daring to go further than what is supposed for a guest musician. "Danger Money" follows with a great performance by Jobson and Minnemann. "Thirty Years" is such a beautiful composition with those original progressions and harmonies. Eddie Jobson displays his Emersonian influences in "Alaska" followed by "Time To Kill" where he squeezes his electric violin full of effects. Then we have the beautiful King Crimson's "Starless" with a great crescendo where Jobson does another amazing display with his violin.

"Carrying No Cross", the epic in their Danger Money album, is another display for Jobson, making it clear that he should be more considered among the top Prog keyboardists and not just as a violin player. Alex Machacek stays absent for this one. Then we have a very good drum solo by Minnemann and a violin solo by Jobson, very effects-driven. "Nevermore" is another highly beautiful piece with great soloing by Jobson and Machacek, followed by King Crimson's "One More Red Nightmare" were Jobson delivers new violin solos.

"Caesar's Palace Blues" and "The Only Thing She Needs" continue the fantastic track choice.

As an encore, Wetton and Jobson stay in the stage and perform an intimate version of "Rendezvous 6:02" just on e-piano and voice.

Wetton does not look too enthusiastic but he sings very well, Jobson confirms how good a keyboardist he is besides his violin playing, Minnemann is a delight to watch and Machacek successfully does the difficult job of covering for Holdsworth. Overall a wonderful release for fans of this supergroup.

My review # 50 : Jobson mania!

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!