IAN ANDERSON PLAYS THE ORCHESTRAL JETHRO TULL

A highly recommended album for all who like all latest works by Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson. I would not say the versions of the songs on this double live record are very original and new but they are consistent. Don't be fooled by the name of the record - it's not another "Grand Orcherstra Plays Jethro Tull". Most of the sounds are produced by the band of 5 musicians, including Anderson himself. The choice of songs seems to be more or less typical for Anderson live concert of the latest years - a mixture of new songs and all-time classics. The only thing that let me down a couple of times is Ian's voice - he just can't sing some high keys anymore, but still it's quite listenable. But in all other aspects it is a great album.

I am listening to this album as I write, and I can say that this should be on every Tull fan's wish list. Many of Anderson's works lend themselves to orchestral interpretation, and this album is among the best of that genre. Ian Anderson never fails to impress me with his continuing creative energies, exploring the varied worlds of acoustic, rock, and classical music with the vigor of a true creative musical artist. He is one veteran musician that certiainly is not "Living in the Past".

(please forgive my very approximate english, i would have express my appreciation in french)

Ian Anderson is back at his very best. At my opinion, this is a perfect live-anthology of the gold age of Jethro Tull, with such appropriate arrangements, highly brillant prestations of the omnipresent flute (It's seem to me that Ian is a big worker of his fetich instrument, more than ever), delicious acoustic line of the guitar, perfect mastering.The "classic touch" of the Tull is the pregnant aspect of this performance, who's never pompous or ponderous. And last bu not least, Ian's voice is much more better than these last years. The "like-knopfler-voice" seems actually to be closed, and the venerable minstrel, since "christmas album", seems more and more finding some of this vocal specifity again (well, sometimes, the limit is overtake, but for a scenic prestation, it as for me very appreciable and enjoying).

I recommand highly this wonderful 2CD to anyone who search some kind of quintessential "Tull anthology". Some of the best recréations and interpretations ever of "bourree" aqualung", "my good" or "locomotive breath" are to be founded here. Very good selection of the Tull or Anderson song's catalogue. Among others albums of Tull, no doubt for me that nowhere you can find such enthousiastic pregnance of the Ian's Art of flute playing. Big Hourrah for Mister Ian Anderson. :o)

This beautiful two disc live output stretches from material as old as Bourée from '69, to something as recent as Ian Anderson's last solo release, Rupin's Dance, only two years earlier. The set list varies from acoustic tracks with vocals, with only mere orchestral touches, to the full band pieces where orchestra goes all out, and even songs that have been completely re-written and orchestra makes it its own. Aqualung isn't even recognizable until vocals begin, which is extremely fresh and even veteran, life-long Tull fans will adore this rendition.

As many people have mentioned, Ian Anderson's voice is suffering from 37+ years in the business of singing, though his flute playing has actually improved greatly. But on this specific release, his voice doesn't sound too shabby at all, and flute playing is still five-stars. And, in the fashion of Jethro Tull, there even many laughs on this album. Sometimes the orchestra adds another dimension of energy or substance to the music, and other times it simply complements the melodies, and fortifies the beauty of the music. But it always works perfectly, and it never seems misplaced.

I was very surprised - very surprised at the brilliant production, the excellent sound quality, and the phenomenal re-workings of the old songs. To be honest, I didn't expect a whole lot from this one, which was a big mistake! Any casual Tull fan, or die-hard, should be putting money aside for this one.

A great live album and a must have for Jethro Tull fans. Lovers of folk, classical music and a bit of lounge jazz should enjoy the fusions here too. It's generally quite laid back with the orchestral backing, the arrangements are often subtle but add some depth to create nice versions of a few early JT pieces, especially Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose, Bouree and "Aqualung". The accordian appears a lot throughout the set, including on "Living In The Past". In addition, Anderson plays some solo pieces and other classical works, of which "Pavane" works beautifully. In all, this album fortifies Mr Anderson as a top musician of our time. Highly recommended.

Review Nº 572

"Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull" is the debut live album of the Jethro Tull's frontman Ian Anderson, as a solo artist, and was released in 2005. It features the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt Orchestra, conducted by John O'Hara. It was recorded from a live show at the Rosengarten in Manheim, Germany in 2004. This concert was part of a series of concerts with the same name. Anderson and the orchestra toured Europe and USA throughout 2004 and 2006. It was also released a DVD that contains the same songs, precisely in the same order, and also released in the same year.

The line up on "Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull" is Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, bamboo flute and acoustic guitar), Florian Opahle (acoustic and electric guitar), John O'Hara (keyboards and accordion), David Goodier (bass guitar and glockenspiel) and James Duncan (drums and percussion). The album had also the participation of the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt Orchestra. The album has also the participation of three of the members of the orchestra, as soloists, Kathrin Troester (flute), Sibylle Wähnert (basson) and Astrid Cienia (oboe), in some songs on the album.

The Anderson's debut live album leads the charge through 2 CD's of past and present of many Jethro Tull's classics, as well as a few solo favourites from his career, once again following a popular trend of mixing rock with the classical music. Of course, there's no doubt that the music of Jethro Tull would be a perfect fit for this format, and the resulting set is a lot of fun, offering up varying versions of the songs that almost all of us know very well and that we love too.

As you can see by the track list, there are plenty of classic songs here, as well as some of the holiday tunes that Jethro Tull has recorded. From the Jethro Tull's tracks, we have: "Bourée" of "Stand Up"; "Wondr'ing Aloud", "Cheap Day Return", "Mother Goose", "Aqualung", "My God" and "Locomotive Breath" of "Aqualung"; "Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day" of "War Child"; "Up The Pool", "Life Is A Long Song" and "Living In The Past" of "Living In The Past"; "Budapest" of "Crest Of A Knave"; "We Five Kings", "Pavane" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" of "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album". From the Anderson's solo tracks, we have: "In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff" of "Divinities: Twelve Dances With God"; "Boris Dancing" of "The Secret Language Of Birds"; "Eurology", "Calliandra Shade (The Cappuccino Song)" and "Griminelli's Lament" of "Rupi's Dance".

Anderson is a great showman, and while he may not have the great voice he had 20 or 30 years ago, he still brings what would be a fairly calm orchestral evening to greater heights thanks to his very energetic stage presence and with witty commentaries. I love the version of the classic "Mother Goose", completed with bassoon, oboe, and accordion, as it gave a wonderful flavour to the piece. Of the orchestral tracks, there's a ton of highlights, namely "Budapest", "Living In The Past", "Life Is A Long Song", "My God", "Locomotive Breath", and the holiday's pieces "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "We Five Kings", are especially timely. In short, this is really an excellent live show with great fun too.

So, here we have "Aqualung", "Locomotive Breath", "My God", and many other Jethro Tull's favorites that received the orchestral treatment, as do J. S. Bach's "Bourée" and the European Christmas carol "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen". The arrangements are all tasteful and great. They sound perfectly natural given the classical influence that has been a part of Anderson's work for so long. Of course, these performances aren't classical music in the strict sense of the word, but practically all of them are now great progressive rock classic pieces. Joining Ian and the Orchestra we have James Duncan, David Goodier, John O'Hara, who also is the conductor, and Florian Opahle. They form a fine unit, and while they may not be Jethro Tull, they certainly have a handle on the songs and work perfectly well with the Orchestra.

Conclusion: "Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull" is mainly focused on three studio albums of Jethro Tull "Aqualung", "Living In The Past" and "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album", plus several songs that belong to his solo career. All songs are great and magnificently performed. Some songs are only performed by the band's members but most of all are also performed by the orchestra. I must confess that I was deeply surprised by the brilliant production, the excellent sound quality, and most of all, by the incredible re-workings of the old songs, which would be a perfect fit for this format. I also must confess my surprise by the familiarity that we can feel between Ian Anderson, the band members and the orchestra. We can see a huge respect for him. This is highly recommended for all Jethro Tull's fans and as Ian Anderson's recent forays into the classical music. Unfortunately, we can't see some new Jethro Tull's musics, but at least here we have some live, alternate re-editions of some Jethro Tull's classics done up by the leader Ian Anderson, to keep us busy. Here, we are in presence of one of the better "rock meets orchestra" projects available.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)