August 03, 2003C.A.B. 演奏會: 烤馬鈴薯+樂器技藝精湛的Fusion夜晚
Ron, "亦宛然", 肥羊和我這次到 Baked Potato － 一個網頁上自稱位於 (West) North Hollywood, Yahoo map 顯示地址為 Studio City, 實際上很靠近 Universal City 的小型酒吧型的演奏場所. 時間 2 AUG 2003. 樂團: C.A.B. 晚上八點多, 我們一行四人抵達目的地, 幸運地在門口附近找到路邊停車位. 因為打算吃這兒的的烤馬鈴薯當晚餐, 我們來得算是不晚. 選了舞台右方第一排的座位, 剛坐下就被 A 了$20.00 門票, 接著來招呼我們的 waitress 成為今晚最大的壓力來源..., 如果不乖乖的定時掏錢買酒, 少不了頻繁的"問候"... 可能點烤馬鈴薯的客人不少, 烹調不及, 我們的馬鈴薯送到一會兒, 樂團已經開始演奏第一個 set. 由左至右舞台上站/坐了 keyboard 手 Steve Weingart, bass 手 Bunny Brunel, 鼓手 Virgil Donati, 吉他手 Tony MacAlpine. 前兩首曲子, 感覺上接近傳統爵士的音色, 釋放出輕鬆隨興的氣氛, 只有在吉他手一小段即興中, 隱約察覺他們其實還流有 fusion, prog-rock/metal 的血液. 從第三首歌開始, 樂風轉向 fusion, 各人玩弄技巧的即興片段也增加, 當中 Tony MacAlpine 和 Virgil Donati 受到較多青睞, 當然千手觀音－ Virgil Donati, 我們此行主要朝聖對象, 是最受矚目的. Bunny Brunel 以三跟手指彈 bass, 他的 solo 給我的感覺跟其他團員比較起來傾向"感性"的路線(這個感覺很個人, 或許可能有部分是 bass 的音色造成的?), Ron 將之評為技法上較為傳統, 不易搭配當晚吉他與鼓的風格; Tony MacAlpine 的即興演奏, 對樂器外行的我, 最能吸引注意的就是他靈活的指法. 想像跟著吉他的旋律一起飄升, 感覺隨著樂手臉上沉醉的表情一起著迷, 我分不清楚這是不是一種"神入"樂器技巧的欣賞/享受心理狀態, 加上聽覺感受的綜合效果?
第一個 set 的最後一曲後部, 輪到鼓手的即興片段, 其他團員離開舞台, 留下 Virgil Donati 成為舞台焦點, 鼓技的狂飆也自此開始. Virgil 的演奏帶給聽眾的是視覺和聽覺的雙重享受, 他的雙手不負盛名地快速逡巡於各 piece 間, 高速的動作形成"千手觀音"的幻覺 :D , 鼓棒在手指間的旋轉變化也吸引的不少讚嘆 (讓我想到我轉筆的技巧只能算小巫了...); 除了手,令 Virgil 成名的, 還有他的佛山無影腳!! Virgil 右腳一個踏板, 負責大鼓, 左腳控制二個踏板, 分別對應大鼓(右)和踏鈸(左)(未查證), 速度快得像...呃..."在騎腳踏車一般"... :P, Ron 上一篇 post 上的網站連結中, 可以找到對於Virgil高超技法的描述: 精通多旋律, odd-time playing and intricate phrasing(懶得去查:p), 炫目般快速, 有力, 及精準的鼓點, 切分音的重複節奏?...等. 有興趣請參考這裡. Virgil Donati 在即興的高潮還站了起來, 不過最瘋狂的要算是他把鼓棒給甩了出來...:p, 請看本文 Virgil 的solo照, 他右手拿的鼓棒現在遭 Ron 竊據中 (太爽了!!)... ;) 中場休息, 到處要簽名的 Ron 是收穫最豐富的. 其他人則還在跟 waitress 纏鬥中..., 我決定點最後一瓶 Heineken 當花瓶...Ron: Ginger Ale...肥羊: Ginger Ale?... 亦宛然: Vodka Lime... 第二場的表演, 並沒有超出第一場的表現, 或許是累了. Waitress 學會了不再來打擾我們, 學習曲線似乎有點緩... (其實是演奏快結束了) 十二點多大家帶著滿足的心情, Ron 帶著一拖拉庫簽名離開...... :) Posted by CL at August 3, 2003 11:45 AMComments
Hi everyone, Couple things to be added on ...... Don't know what you guys think, but I really like to see a performance in a more intimate circumstance, which really allows (or even "requires") the audiences interact w/ the artists. Not only just closer contact, moreover, in between or after the sets you can go cheer the artists, talk to them just like a normal friend, which is surely impossible for regular "big concert setting". Those musicians might not be somebodies for everyone but for me somehow; as a result they had one of the most amazing performance I had ever seen, which is awesume enough for general audience. Virgil, is absolutely amazing enough that night. Not to mention his speedy signature "Double-stroke Kick-Pedal" technique, his innovative crazy individual limb's groove resulted his distinguished personal style. The poly rhythm meant the muitiple patterns applied onto individual limbs (and, on different pieces of drumset of course) to result an more comfusing but actually a groove session in a bigger picture. At the end of the first set, his solo had really gone wild and almost ripped the drum off. Speaking of Tony, the impression I had about him were just way long time ago. Yes, as Yang said Yngwie Malmsteen, I do think that's about the same time speed metal and guitar hero years. Tony had big curly long hair playing speedy metal that time(if you had looked up the weblink I post before, you will get it). And he did change (or say, combine) style. He expressed more freely as he wishes. Did you noticed he rarely looked at the fingerboard? Bunny, I don't know much about him. He did have very high technique of bass. I assumed he's musical concept is most conservative in the band. But don't be mistaken, this guy is the suspicious mastermind of the C.A.B. and he had bunch of publication and teaching background. I wondered if the C.A.B.2 nominated Grammy had something to do w/ him. Steve Weingart, I did see him before not only w/ Virgil, but Dave Weckl (another fusion Drumhead, played w/ Chick Corea). His keyboard tone is rather soft and something synthelizer in an ambiguous intention. However I found his bio on the website and recalled he's in Dave weckl's concert. Even the sound is not the kind that I prefered but I imagine he play an important role in DWB (Dave Weckl's Band), again another mastermind. As usual, I had a few collections done again, signatures on the CDs, DVD, poster, even one of Virgil's drumstick dropped in front of me!! :) Anyway for those who didn't make it to the concert but interested, you can get a little taste from a DVD I got (It's a five tracks short taping in "MI" musician's institute 2002). Sorry I cannot get pictures of any of my collection posted here due to the temporary missing of my camera (hope I can find it in the near future). I will try to put them up ("show" them "off") a.s.a.p. Bravo!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts of the concert, Ron! (ronron? Isn't it only Julee calls you that? :P ) Your comment on performance of C.A.B. makes me feel that finally my "investment" in the concert pays off. :) Btw, I plan to have instant noodles for a while. Don't invite me to any concert for the next 3 weeks... :ppp hey~ ***original post date: 由 I aM PEI 於 2003-08-05 23:37:34 所發表 Posted by: I aM PEI at August 8, 2003 05:38 AMHi, I aM PEI (huh?) ***original post date: 由 CL 於 2003-08-06 01:17:55 所發表 Posted by: CL at August 8, 2003 05:39 AMPost a comment
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