The question many will ask is ‘Do We Need another Graham Bonnet Band live album?’ Well, if you’re a devoted fan of many years like me, then a simple yes applies. I have seen him numerous times with numerous line-ups and as this has the talent that is Conrad Pesinato on guitar… one of the best Graham Bonnet has played with it makes even more sense. Keyboard maestro, Jimmy Waldo from Alcatraz and the delectable Beth-Ami Heavenstone on bass, along with Mark Benquchea on drums play superbly on a set list different from last years Parole Denied. Listen out for Beth-Ami’s bass playing… she is one of the best out there and teases some inventive variations out of the established tunes as well as the band compositions. Then there’s the big plus in that Live In Tokyo 2017 has a curiosity for die hard fans like me… the last track is tantalisingly called ‘The Crying Chair – Intended Lyric Version’.
This first appeared on the Meanwhile, Back in the Garage album but with different lyrics. It’s not a live track and I’m not sure why the lyrics were changed, as I cannot find offence in any of the differences although the taxi driver Graham Bonnet sings about may disagree. So this is certainly worth the money for a fan such as I, plus you get storming versions of the Rainbow, MSG, solo and Impelliteri back catalogue too. Sit back and enjoy those 70 year old tonsils wrap themselves ably around ‘Lost In Hollywood’, ‘Dancer’, ‘Night Games’, ‘Stand In Line’ and an absolutely unbeatable version of ‘Eyes Of The World’ and many others. The man still has the voice, the band interpret the music brilliantly and the set is well paced and mixed up so that it never feels like a tribute show. You also have the opportunity to gaze in wonder at how those tendons and blood vessels don’t give way during Graham Bonnet’s wholehearted and rousing efforts across this entertaining set as it is packaged with a DVD. Excellent stuff!
