Search - Keith Emerson, The Nice :: Vivacitas: Live At Glasgow 2002

Some very nice parts

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 02/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a US release of the very expensive British import. The cover on this release is black on white. On the import, the cover is more colorul with a black background.



Keith Emerson went on a short tour with the two members of the Nice (Lee Jackson and Brian Davison)plus a three other musicians who were in an ELP tribure band. This is from the show in Glasgow.



The first disc is around 50 minutes long and features the Nice, plus David Kilimister, from the tribue band on guitar. The second CD is 40 minutes long and does not feature the Nice. The first two tracks are keyboard solos from Emerson. The remaining tracks feature the members of the tribute band. The sound quality is very good to excellent. The third disc is a 22 minute interview with the Nice, talking about what is was like to play in concert 30 years ago.



The first disc, featuring the Nice, is very good. Unlike what another reveiwer said, it is not a note perfect copy of the original Nice. They play every song in a new and different way. Some of the new renditions are great.



It starts out with a Rondo/America medly. Both tunes have been overplayed by Emerson, both with the Nice and with ELP. So, hearing them again can be tedious, especially on some of the later ELP live records. But, here they are given a new treatment with other bits of music mixed in. So, for the most part it is fairly interesting. Here, as on a number of the tracks, the addition of Kilimister's guitar adds new depth to the work.



Next is a really fun and very good jazzy rendition of Little Arabella and a rocky version of She Belongs To Me, with a searing guitar solo. This is followed by the worst track on the album, Cry of Eugene. This is the worst version of the song I have ever heard, and it has a very lame guitar solo. Jackson never had a good voice and it is really rough here. The best version of Cry of Eugene done by Lee Jackson's group called Jackson Heights (and it is the best song that group does).



The version of Hang On To A Dream is completely different than any other version and features a long accoustic guitar solo. It is extremely good. However, I still prefer the version on Elegy, which features one of the best keyboard solos of all time. But, I am glad that the group just didn't try to duplicate what it has done before.



Country Pie is fairly good, but suffers from the keyboard playing at the end, which sounds like it was pulled out of Van Halen's Jump.



The final track is a searing version Karella Suite, which has some firely guitar and keyboard solos.



Overall, this is a 4 to 5 star disc, and would be worth buying on its own at a reasonable price.



On the second CD, the first 2 piano solos are fairly interesting, but nothing significantly different than what Emerson has done before.



These are followed by a complete 20 minute version of Tarkus. It is played differently than how ELP has done it in the past. It is very good and very energetic. It is played differently enough that it is worth owning (unlike the live version of Pirates, by ELP, for instance). The only downside is Kilimister's vocals. He sounds like a screaming corporate rock lead singer, like something you would hear from Kansas or Foreigner.



The final tracks are Hoe Down and Fanfare for the Common Man, which are 2 more tracks that have been overplayed by Emerson. The odd thing is that the original studio versions of these 2 tracks still remain the best and most energetic versions. These tunes are played different than the originals, but I don't think anything is added to make these worth owning.



The Nice started out as a quartet, with David O'List on guitar. O'List was more of a leader than Emerson in the beginning. The CD, The Swedish Radio Sessions, captures the Nice before their first record was released. It is a great album. The band was more jazz oriented and O'List was an amazing guitar player. O'List only stayed for two albums. The group continued on without a guitartist and became more classical oriented. The Nice was on the leading edge of "Art Rock".



The Nice's lead singer has been Lee Jackson, who really doesn't have a good enough voice to lead a band. He would be a great secondary singer, doing choruses. At times, he has this very unique whine that adds an interesting texture and atmosphere to some of the songs. Jackson even admits on the interview CD that he isn't a lead singer, and if the Nice reformed, he would like to add a guitarist and lead singer.



I think the Nice's two best albums are Elegy, (with the fantastic Hang on To A Dream) and the Swedish Tapes. This CD is a nice addition, but it is questionable if it is worth the price.



"

Must have for die-hard Emo fans, otherwise buy used....

notatthistime | notatthistime | 06/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sure most die hard EMO/ELP fans already own this. So, for the casual listener or if your trying to resdiscover ELP, please dont pay more than 15.00 for this. Its interesting but something I doubt you'll listen to repeatedly.



Disc one: For old school nice fans, this is very cool. They cover "the hits" America, Hang on to a Dream, etc. As Keith has said, it's all about economics sometimes. Had they had more money(backing)& time, I cant help but think how much better this could have been.



Disc two: THis is Keith solo & with his band alone. As a ELP fan, I loved Tarkus. Presented here,updated, it's awsome! Again, w/more time & effort, Keith could probably rework a lot of the ELP songbook to sound like this (ie:better!). Hoedown, one of my favorite ELP songs is a train wreck. Emo needs to drop the stuff he cant play anymore. He's a genius but his hands are slowing down. The solo acoustic tunes, brillinat but probably not for the casual listener.



Disc three: I wish it was longer! To here these road kings talking about the Nice, Lemmy fm Motorhead, Keith's knives, etc. I found this totally entertaining. Again, it was like three old friends remembering the good times. I loved it. THe only problem was that it's only 1/2 hour long! I wanted more!



So, hope this helps. Again, I'm sure most EMO fans have it. I've seen it on-line for 30.00(too much). If you can find it cheap &/or used, it's not a bad assoortment of work. Had a major label footed the bill for this, more liner notes, more interviews on disc 3, better rehearsed material in a larger hall(now thats a wish list)-this would really have been an event!"

Keith Emerson & The Nice - 'Vivacitas:Live At Glasgow 2002'

Mike Reed | USA | 12/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about all the reunions of '60's and '70's bands you'd NEVER expect to see.This 3-CD release of the 2002 reunion of The Nice is actually very good to have.Keith Emerson has hooked up once again to work with Nice members Lee Jackson and Brian Davidson. This 13 track concert of The Nice's 2002 performance in Glasgow, Scotland comes out to a neatly played 95 minute set that's on disc 1 and 2. Tracks that were such a pleasure to listen to were "America/Rondo", "She Belongs To Me" (do I hear some Van Halen's "Jump" - like licks toward the end of this cut? You listen and tell me), the jazzy "Hang On To A Dream", the inventive "Karelia Suite", the 21-minute ELP masterpiece "Tarkus" (possibly the box set's best tune), the always great to hear "Hoedown" and "Fanfare For The Common Man". Disc three is a 22-minute interview that Chris Welch did with the band in 2001. Line-up: Keith Emerson-keyboards, Brian Davidson-drums, Lee Jackson-guitar, bass&vocals and Dave Kilminister-guest guitarist. A definite should-have."