Search - Ben Sidran :: On the Live Side

Superb modern crooner and keyboard player

Terje Biringvad | Oslo, Norway | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Does Ben Sidran sound familiar to you? This artist has changes all my perception on the multi gifted crooner with an excellent voice and with an awesome keyboard technique. Why? Today the crooner tradition is in a good shape and the new generation of crooners is more or less divided into two categories - the Tin Pan alley / American songbook represented by the likes of Harry Connick and Michael Buble, the second category by modern and musically more inventive crooners in the tradition of Mose Allison and Eddie Jefferson. This is where Ben Sidran belong and rules the ground.



14 years after his debut as a leader with the great album "I Lead A Life" (available only from Japan), the 1986 "One The Live Side" album represents on of the greatest live albums recorded among the crooners. Teamed with his working band of and guest appearances by guitarist Steve Miller and long-time alto sax friend Phil Woods, they give the listener a joyous performance in both acoustic- and electric format. The concert kicks-off with an all solo blues performance, then into duo and trio format and the latter five tunes with synth drums and keyboards. The beauty of this album is the great melodic approach and melodies, intellectual texts and the storyteller himself singing and talking. The "Piano Players" tune is telling the history of piano jazz players in 3 minutes....and what a story teller!



Sidran says it the best in the album opening introduction - "this is captured music, not manufactured music". He's 150% right, so get online to order!

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