Michael Landau is a widely known and accepted craftsman of the guitar instrument and his reputation has been reinforced by the fact that he is indeed an acclaimed performer and well respected session guitarist. In the past he has made co-operations with musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Daina Ross, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, Seal, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones and of course Miles Davis, just to name a few. Almost 6 years have pasted since Mike Landau's last release - so this last one was anticipated enough.
If you are not familiar to Landau's music, this is is a good chance for a brief introduction in his own work. The recording, mixing and mastering are very precise, clean and accurate. Mr. Landau makes a comeback accompanied by Scott Kinsey on keyboards, along with well known bassist Jimmy Johnson, Chris Roy and drummers Toss Panos, Gary Novak to name some.
This double CD live recording was performed in a LA Club during 2006. The 1st CD sounds as more blues or rock based while the 2nd one includes mostly jazzy stuff and elements of experimentation. If you are not familiar with guitar stuff then maybe you will find yourself semi-moaning from time to time. A possible drawback of this live recording is maybe the partially weak vocal lines of Landau, which on the other hand are artistically acceptable.
Landau has altered certain arrangements in some of his previously recorded material featured in this live elease. If you consider yourself as a diehard Landau fan, you must add this one to your previous albums at once. On the whole, this is actually a wonderful live fusion CD, but someone might be expecting more from a forthcoming studio album.
Highlights of this album can be considered: "Worried Life Blues, "A Peaceful Ride, "Ghouls And The Goblins, "Johnny Swing.