| Jeff Beck | Primary Artist |
| Jason Rebello | Keyboards |
| Chris Bruce | Bass |
| Vinnie Colaiuta | Drums |
| Clive Deamer | Drums |
| Earl Harvin | Drums |
| Luis Jardim | Percussion |
| Pino Palladino | Bass |
| Steve Sidwell | Conductor |
| Pete Murray | Keyboards |
| Joss Stone | Vocals |
| Tal Wilkenfeld | Bass |
| Imelda May | Vocals |
| Olivia Safe | Vocals |
| Alessia Mattalia | Drums |
| Joss Sidwell | Vocals |
| Benjamin Britten | Composer |
| Giacomo Puccini | Composer |
| Jeff Beck | Arranger, Composer, Liner Notes |
| Jason Rebello | Composer, Programming, Lyricist |
| Harold Arlen | Composer |
| Niko Bolas | Engineer |
| Alan Branch | Engineer |
| E.Y. "Yip" Harburg | Composer |
| Screamin' Jay Hawkins | Composer, Lyricist |
| Trevor Horn | Executive Producer |
| Steve Lipson | Programming, Producer, Engineer, Liner Notes |
| Tim Weidner | Engineer |
| Ian Cooper | Mastering |
| Niall Acott | Engineer |
| Renato Simoni | Composer |
| Giuseppe Adami | Composer |
| Pete Murray | keyboard arrangements, Orchestral Arrangements |
| Joss Stone | Composer, Lyricist |
| Dario Marianelli | Composer |
| Graham Archer | Engineer |
| Steve Price | Engineer |
| Sam Farr | Engineer |
| James H. Shelton | Composer, Lyricist |
| Edd Hartwell | Engineer |
| Kazuyo Horie | Digital Manipulation |
How many ways can I say brilliant? Phenomonal. Perfection. Genius. This CD is all those synonyms and more! A blend of funk, mellow rock, and mind-melting blues that I will never grow tired of hearing. Buy it. Experience Beck's brilliance.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Casablues
Posted October 1, 2010
The artistry displayed on this album continues to show why Jeff Beck is rock's premier guitarist. From the mournful "Corpus Christi Carol" to the rollicking "There's No Other Me", Beck wrings the emotion from his guitar in a way that even non-guitarists can appreciate. In addition to the usual instrumental gems (including a stunning take on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), his collaborations with vocalists Joss Stone ("I Put a Spell on You" and "There's No Other Me") and newcomer Imelda May ("Lilac Wine") are highlights as well. The inclusion of a full orchestra on several cuts harkens back to Beck's Blow by Blow album. Emotion and Commotion is a fully realized and wonderfully executed album that shows Jeff Beck at the top of his game.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ET-72
Posted October 1, 2010
It's been decades since I bought a Jeff Beck record. My last one could possibly be "Blow by Blow." See, I told you it's been a long time. But, on "Emotion and Commotion" Beck establishes himself as one of the world's great rock guitarists. He is equally comfortable playing a slow, soulful tune like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as he is ripping through many of the other songs on the record. One of the songs even has a full orchestra playing. A guitarist as maestro. Now, that is something you don't hear every day. His guitar weeps, loves, hammers, and cries. The name is apt for the varying moods Beck puts the listener in as you enjoy this collection. I whole-heartedly recommend this album.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sleepwalkers
Posted October 1, 2010
Beck's new album sounds as if he was unable to focus on a specific style of music and so basically decided to throw ideas for three very distinct projects into one release. The four pieces - Benjamin Britten's Corpus Christi Carol, Harold Arlen's Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Giacomo Puccini's Nessun Dorma and Dario Marianelli's Elegy For Dunkirk - consisting of Beck performing solo guitar with the orchestra are simply majestic. By the way, Beck also had recorded the pensive Adagietto from Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony, yet opted not to include it for some reason.
I admit that I am extremely partial to the instrumental tracks including contributions from his recent lineup of drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Tal Wilkenfeld and keyboardist Jason Rebello. Since I admit to holding a firm preconception that this musical direction should have dominated the album, my preference leans towards the aggressive stomp of 'Hammerhead', the grace and finesse of 'Never Alone' and the shuffle funk groove of 'Serene' (which includes some very tasteful bass licks from Wilkenfeld).
Unfortunately, the vocal tracks leave me somewhat cold. Why rehash a tired blues number such as 'I Put A Spell On You' in 2010? And then why allow Joss Stone to caterwaul some utter nonsense all over the fierce funk of 'There Is No Other Me'? I am not completely sure of the accuracy, but I was informed that the track was initially built from an instrumental idea titled Pristine Delusion and I really wish that it had remained as such. Another frustrating aspect of this particular piece is how it fades out abruptly just as the band finally starts to kick into high gear. Beck and Imelda May's take on Jeff Buckley's 'Lilac Wine' is appropriately relaxed, but I feel that it does not actually gel with the rest of the material. It seems that the two also recorded Howlin Wolf's 'Poor Boy', which will be included on the Japanese version of the album. Beck also recorded an instrumental version of 'Cry Me A River', which will be included on the Japanese version as well. So for those who prefer that Beck keep on playing the blues, then I suppose that could be recommended as another option for purchase.
For those such as I who find themselves most impressed by Beck when he cuts loose with his daring and dazzling blend of jazz/rock fusion, they are most likely not going to be so fully satisfied with the overall content of this release.
Anonymous
Posted June 14, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
When Jeff Beck last ventured into the studio it was to cut 2003's Jeff, a deliberately modernist album steeped in electronica, to which 2010's Emotion & Commotion almost feels like a refutation. Working with producers Steve Lipson and Trevor Horn, Beck has created an old-fashioned blues-rock-cum-prog record, balancing the sweeping vistas of a 64-piece orchestra with cool jazz-funk grooves, tarted-up Screamin' Jay Hawkins covers with a pair of Jeff Buckley tunes and a gentle reading of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Joss Stone sits in for two songs, including "I Put a Spell on You," with jazz vocalist Imelda May and opera singer Olivia Safe taking lead on two ...