Print Page | Close Window

Jean Michel Jarre -Symphony Hall Birmingham,UK

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Live Performance Reviews
Forum Description: Performance Reviews by Members
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47441
Printed Date: December 23 2024 at 06:57
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Jean Michel Jarre -Symphony Hall Birmingham,UK
Posted By: richardh
Subject: Jean Michel Jarre -Symphony Hall Birmingham,UK
Date Posted: March 28 2008 at 08:09
27th March
 
This seemed to big an opportunity to miss despite the slightly inflated ticket prices (mine cost £70) which clearly scared away a number of punters given the empty seats around the place. I was keen though to see the French electronic keyboard wizard perform his seventies masterwork Oxygene with all the original keyboards.Mouth watering prospect for electronic music fans indeed.
 
The set up on stage was JMJ surrounded by his keyboards and three other keyboard players with smaller rigs lined up behind. The stage effects were limited to mainly well chosen ambient ligting plus some nice video images including the effective Earth/Skull image which rotated during Part 6 (no Penguins in part 4 though!) .Part 1 was much longer than the original album and perhaps a bit long but it works well going into a superb version of Part 2 (my favourite part of the album). I think they nailed this.Part 3 was beset by some technical problems (the only ones I noticed all night) but Part 4 was greeted with much applause (JMJarres greatest hit!) .After this there seemed to be at least a couple of new sections and Part 5 (or now 6?!) was even better than the album. Occasionally JMJ went in for some improvisation and even got out the old Keytar (much loved by Asia's Geoff Downes). The main performance ran into a couple of further parts from the follow up album going up to a wopping 1hour and twenty minutes! Following that JMJ did an encore of further extra Oxygene peices.
 
Overall an excellent show. Very good acoustics in a venue built for orchestral performances. I would have liked to have heard some music from other JMJ albums but maybe another time!



Replies:
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: March 28 2008 at 09:51

Sounds great, thanks for this review!

Im gonna see him in Oslo on April 12th and Im very excited considering that Jarre is one of my all-time favorite artists. I already have the Oxygene DVD (which was excellent) so it's most likely gonna be incredible! 


-------------
RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!


Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 28 2008 at 18:40
My first though was Jarre, in Birmingham, Alabama?  No way!  I figured out pretty quickly it had to be another Birmingham. LOL

-------------
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...



Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: April 01 2008 at 14:09
Thanks for your opinion.
I will be in the concert here in my city of Porto, at the Coliseu, next 27th April, i'm really excited and I expect it correspond to your description, and to be one of the best concert of my life.


Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 16:28
It's tomorrow.Big%20smile


Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 18:21

You'll not be disappointed! Approve



-------------
RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!


Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: May 03 2008 at 07:41
27th April
 
Yes, I'm not. It was really amazing.
The sound was very good, and visually it was fabulous. Althought it is not we commonly see in Jean Michelk Jarre's events outside, the ilumination was superbs, the lighs were perfect. The mirror that came down during the songs is a spectacular idea, and the projection during Oxygène VI (the world and the skull rotating and visiting its interior), and Nature, during Oxygène XII, it was almost a National Geographic Documentary, this time with music replacing the text. As and encore, Oxygène XIII. He was particularly aplaused during parts II, IV and VI, the pair ones.
A last mention to the comeback of the original analog keyboards, his vintage collection sounded amazingly.Clap
It was just Oxygène (from the original, and the album of 1997, "Oxygène 7-13") on that night, but it was wonderful.Thumbs%20UpSmile Hope to see him again, outside.


Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 12:39
^ Glad you mentioned the mirror as I forgot to! That was a very nice simple and effective idea by JMJ. Pleased you enjoyed the show as much as meBig%20smile



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2014 Web Wiz Ltd. - http://www.webwiz.co.uk