Richard Thompson shines again on new live release

Good morning and happy hump day, everyone.  I hope your day is off to a great start.  I think the week is starting to get to me.  I'm definitely tired this morning.  But you know what makes my week better?  Getting to watch all these dvd's and listen to all this music, and even reading the occasional book for review here in the Reel Reviews blog.  No book for today.  But we will have another cd to review later this morning.  Right now though, in this brand new edition of Reel Reviews, we have the upcoming live release from The Richard Thompson Band, "Live at Celtic Connections".  This show was recorded January 2011.  And for fans of the band, it's a great addition to your collections.  That's all in the first of two new editions of Reel Reviews.

Richard Thompson is one of the most prolific names in the history of modern music.  He's played with the likes of Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, R.E.M., Los Lobos, and countless other top names in the industry over the course of his career.  Even Rolling Stone recently named him to its list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.  That honor is fully justified, as those who watch his new live dvd and blu-ray will see.

"Live at Celtic Connections" is slated to hit store shelves next week, January 31st.  It was recorded at last January's Celtic Connections festival at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, Scotland.  The concert opens with a rather fitting song in 'The Money Shuffle'.  It's one of many songs currently attacking the worldwide financial institutions, and their impact on the world's economies.  It's just one of many great songs on this nearly two and a half hour long concert.  Some of the show's other standout songs include:  'Demons in Her Dancing Shoes', 'Big Sun Falling in The River', 'I'll Never Give It Up', and the show closer, 'A Man in Need'.  Those songs, and so many others throughout the show really highlight Thompson's skills with the guitar.

Thompson's abilities with the guitar are shown throughout the performance.  But as the old adage goes, there is no "I" in team.  The rest of the band's members add their own ingredient to the whole recipe that made the show a success.  Drummer Michael Jerome is stunning behind his kit.  His playing is absolutely seamless from one song to the next.  Pete Zorn and Joel Zifkin help add to the Celtic sound with their musicianship on flute, sax, violin and mandolin.  At one point, the pair together make for a rather Jethro Tull-esque sound.  All together, the band members cull their talents for one enjoyable show from start to finish.

The music is the real star of this new live release.  However, it's not all that made it so fun to watch.  Thompson jokes both with the audience and his bandmates throughout the course of the show.  He really builds quite the rapport with the audience because of his joking.  His wit makes for plenty of laughs here and there.  He even takes a playful jab at Tom Jones at one point. 

Richard Thompson has shown with "Live at Celtic Connections" that while he may be an old dog, it doesn't mean he doesn't know some new tricks.  If anything he's shown with this performance that he's just as talented and capable as any of his much younger counterparts who are just beginning to make names for themselves.  What's more, it's an indicator that as long as he's capable of playing, he'll continue to be known as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time.

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Philip Sayblack can be contacted at psayblack@wnct.com