Beck Grammy Awards Show 2010 - How High the Moon

[rw2003]

Here is the video for those (like myself) who didn't watch the original broadcast.

 

Some folks are saying it was a lip synced performance, others say there were pre-recorded vocal and maybe even guitar tracks... I don't know... I hear two guitars and see JB plus a rhythm player in the back to the right.

 

What do you think???

 

[video:youtube]

[Werewolf by Night]

I'll get back to you when the vid is loaded and I've been able to watch it; but, bear in mind that any tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford doing "How High the Moon" worth its salt has just got to address the multi-tracked vocal harmonies and guitar parts and the numerous unprecedented effects that were all part-and-parcel of their huge contributions to music on all levels.

 

Now, during some live performances, Les & Mary sometimes used pre-recorded tape-reels and live overdubbed-looping for both the guitar and vocals- not lip-syncing, but as part of the sound along with live singing and playing. It wasn't just for the studio.

[rw2003]

Nice... So I guess that the performance was so "spot on" of a tribute that most folks did not understand what they heard!

[Werewolf by Night]

Here, check this out if you haven't seen it before already, a live performance in front of an audience in a television-studio, circa 1953:

 

____________ [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ffdwBUL78

[Crazy Fingers]

I saw it and loved it! But then again, I watched the movie "Twins" just to see Jeff play Sleepwalk for 10 seconds! I'm a HUGE fan and have been for years! As luck would have it, Palladia had scheduled the "Live at Ronnie Scott's" concert concert the next evening, so I watched that for the third time and got my Bolero fix! RIP Lester!

[picker]

I didn't really notice any multitracking on the guitar. The voice being multitracked was pretty much to be expected. I couldn't tell if she was synching or not, but I'd suspect she was singing one of the parts live. I can't imagine why she wouldn't, anyway, it worked for Mary Ford.

[tony conley]

Imelda May's pr firm has come out and said she was definitely singing. Can you imagine how bummed out they are because they tried something neat, and they've so jaded us with false performances that she got lumped in?

 

It sucks for us all.

 

Of course they added the overdubbed harmonies and multi tracks. No doubling for Jeff though. He was sounding very raw (in a a great way).

 

And, I wonder who that was comping chords over on the right?

 

Damn Jeff is so so very good, isn't he? His performance was damned coopeace, tc

 

Antbody nail down the amp model yet?

[Billster]

You could set up one of these guys for the vocal. Maybe Digitech should have called it the "Les Paulverizer"

[Werewolf by Night]

OK, rw2003- I LOVED that dynamite vid-clip of Jeff and Imelda doing "How High The Moon" at the Grammys!! Thanks for posting that! I've watched that over and over again. Love his tone there! And her vocals- her live lead, and backing-tracked harmonies- are perfect, really perfect, and really nailed the personal nuance of pitch-intonation and harmony that Mary Ford had. And the rest of the band was fantastic, too. Great stuff!

 

I wish Jeff Beck and Imelda May would make an entire album with that very same rhythm-section line-up, and then tour extensively; they'd make a great duo-headliner with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss with T-Bone Burnett & Co.!

 

Here's a great thread from Gibson Forums, full of info on Les Paul's "Les Paulverizer" guitar-mounted controller for live multi-tracking and over-dub/looping.

 

And here's another cool vid, with wise advice passed on from Les' Mom, and a little anecdote featuring W.C. Fields:

 

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW1FYKyk2L4

 

I didn't really notice any multitracking on the guitar. The voice being multitracked was pretty much to be expected. I couldn't tell if she was synching or not, but I'd suspect she was singing one of the parts live. I can't imagine why she wouldn't, anyway, it worked for Mary Ford.

 

I totally agree on all points, picker. I'm sure she was singing the lead-part live, over backing-tracks, and/or some harmonizer device or software. Probably pre-recorded backing-tracks, I'd guess, given the very specific harmonies that so well evoke Mary Ford's distinctive harmonizing style and personal sense of pitch-intonation. (She had her own, as did Miles Davis, and Duane Allman and Dickie Betts.)

 

Imelda May's pr firm has come out and said she was definitely singing. Can you imagine... ?

 

It sucks for us all.

 

Yes, yes it does.

 

And, I wonder who that was comping chords over on the right?

 

Anybody nail down the amp model (Jeff used) yet?

 

I'm gonna dig around on the 'net for both subjects; anybody else with info on the band members or gear, please feel free to chime in...

 

Damn Jeff is so so very good, isn't he?

 

Hells, yeahs!

 

You could set up one of these guys for the vocal.

 

You could, but I don't think it'd be nearly as good.

 

And is that capable of doing as many harmony-tracks?

[Guitarzan]

damn cool vid. i missed the Grammy awards but i see there was some cool perfomances.

i of course Pink's performance was awesome.

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_9jcFFBmw

[Billster]

I wish Jeff Beck and Imelda May would make an entire album with that very same rhythm-section line-up, and then tour extensively; they'd make a great duo-headliner with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss with T-Bone Burnett & Co.!

 

Of course you have Jeff & the Big Town Playboys, right?

 

You could set up one of these guys for the vocal.

 

You could, but I don't think it'd be nearly as good.

 

And is that capable of doing as many harmony-tracks?

 

I don't know about that specific box, but the harmonizers are getting quite sophisticated as far as programming the harmony logic into it. And since that was mostly tracking the lead vocal rhythmically, it would be a good application.

[simpleman3441]

I'd never heard of Imelda May, so I youtubed her. Seems to me that Mr. Beck wouldn't take the time to go watch someone lipsync. From my limited observation he works with talent.

 

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwmhMzuBA2Y

 

But if she did lipsync, I don't know that I would hold it against her. I know I wouldn't sing at the Grammy's without an extremely autotuned recording to fake it to!

[Werewolf by Night]

I wish Jeff Beck and Imelda May would make an entire album with that very same rhythm-section line-up, and then tour extensively; they'd make a great duo-headliner with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss with T-Bone Burnett & Co.!

 

Of course you have Jeff & the Big Town Playboys, right?

 

Oh, Hell, yeah! When Crazy Legs first came out, I was fascinated that Jeff Beck went to such great lengths towards sincere authenticity. I developed a greater appreciation for Rockabilly and such vintage and retro styles and sounds, and further insight into the motivation and intent of '60s and '70s rockers (like Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin, for but one example) who'd been inspired and influenced by '50s rockers.

[Lokair]

Well you can thank the likes of millyvannilly to britney spearmeintheass and a massive number of fakes out there who look good but cannot do the job required for the jaded public. Oh yea Ozzy too for that fact. I could rant all day. This was great performance, They should have explained that there was vocal overdubbing going on , but I am sure most would not have known what that meant.

 

Lok

[Scott Fraser]

Oh, Hell, yeah! When Crazy Legs first came out, I was fascinated that Jeff Beck went to such great lengths towards sincere authenticity. I developed a greater appreciation for Rockabilly and such vintage and retro styles and sounds, and further insight into the motivation and intent of '60s and '70s rockers (like Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin, for but one example) who'd been inspired and influenced by '50s rockers.

 

Definitely. It is very revealing that Beck went way out of his normal comfort zone for that album, to the point of getting accustomed to a whole different guitar & sound approach. I think he went through several Gretsches to find one he could work with for this album. I have a pet theory that most musicians have a favorite style that they only play for fun at home when nobody is listening, which is completely not what they are known for. A friend of mine who was the first call avantgardist classical clarinetist in LA used to play bebop on piano at home. Another friend who primarily does electronic noise based stuff, plays country tunes on a beat up old Gibson at home. So I believe Beck must sit around & play Gene Vincent songs at home in between tours.

 

Scott Fraser

[Werewolf by Night]

It is very revealing that Beck went way out of his normal comfort zone for that album [Crazy Legs], to the point of getting accustomed to a whole different guitar & sound approach. I think he went through several Gretsches to find one he could work with for this album. I have a pet theory that most musicians have a favorite style that they only play for fun at home when nobody is listening, which is completely not what they are known for. A friend of mine who was the first call avantgardist classical clarinetist in LA used to play bebop on piano at home. Another friend who primarily does electronic noise based stuff, plays country tunes on a beat up old Gibson at home. So I believe Beck must sit around & play Gene Vincent songs at home in between tours.

 

Yeah; Jeff Beck's probably read more issues of Hot Rod magazine than, say, Guitar Player- which he's more likely to be featured in, than found behind. I think that dovetails with his lifelong love of Rockabilly in general and guitarist Cliff Gallup in particular.

[Larryz]

here's another up and coming duo with a little more female guitarist concept...but I really enjoyed Pink's performance and she's a great writer/singer and all aroung gal...I think the How High The Moon was live all the way...just by watching Jeff and the drummer and Imelda's lips...she did have a little delay going for her in a couple of spots, but for me it was a great performance...Jeff could have played a little more mello like Les Paul on the tone controls, but who's complianing? don't forget to hit the start button...

 

rewatched and didn't see any backing vocal singers so I suspect Imelda's singing to a backing track and that may account for her being off in a couple of spots [just like Mary Ford], but that was how it was done back in Les Paul's days also...that's why it may have appeared lip sinc'ed...but I still think she was live...

[02R96]

Not taking anything away from Beck (it was kind of cool to see him out of his zone, so to speak), but wouldn't Brian Setzer been a better choice?

[Bottom End]

All this discussion reminds me of Beck's work with teh Honeydrippers as well.

 

From the other video, and her album, Imelda MAy's guitarist is no slouch either.

[Scott Fraser]

Not taking anything away from Beck (it was kind of cool to see him out of his zone, so to speak), but wouldn't Brian Setzer been a better choice?

 

That was exactly what I was thinking.

 

Scott Fraser

[Werewolf by Night]

I imagine that, besides his sheer excellence and being perfect for the job, some of the reasons that Jeff Beck was chosen for that were:

 

- He was also there at the Grammys as a nominee for an award

 

- He was directly influenced by Les Paul, had been a friend of his over the years, and had even shared billing with him and also jammed with him on stage

 

- Like Les, he did some of his more acclaimed, historic, and influential work on a hot-rodded vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar

 

- His work on The Honeydrippers: Volume 1 and Crazy Legs certainly indicated his being suitably qualified and fitted to the task

 

- He's a Gibson endorser, and Gibson- very likely a sponsor there- provided him with no less than five '59 LP reissues to choose from for the performance

 

- C'mon- who would you be more stoked about if you found out they were playing a televised tribute to you- Jeff Beck or Brian Setzer?

 

Brian Setzer's great, a lifer, and a credit to our ranks, but Jeff Beck's freekin' Jeff freekin' Beck!

[Scott Fraser]

- He's a Gibson endorser, and Gibson- very likely a sponsor there- provided him with no less than five '59 LP reissues to choose from for the performance

 

How is it possible for Jeff Beck, a guy who has his name on a Signature Strat, to be a Gibson endorser?

 

- C'mon- who would you be more stoked about if you found out they were playing a televised tribute to you- Jeff Beck or Brian Setzer?

Brian Setzer's great, a lifer, and a credit to our ranks, but Jeff Beck's freekin' Jeff freekin' Beck!

 

Sure, definitely Jeff Back to all the above, BUT, whose style is more immediately congruent with that of the late Mr Paul?

 

Scott Fraser

[Werewolf by Night]

- He's a Gibson endorser, and Gibson- very likely a sponsor there- provided him with no less than five '59 LP reissues to choose from for the performance

 

How is it possible for Jeff Beck, a guy who has his name on a Signature Strat, to be a Gibson endorser?

 

How is it not possible? He's got 'em both, or they've each got him.

 

http://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeaturesImages2009/jeff_beck_showroom.jpg

[Scott Fraser]

How is it not possible? He's got 'em both, or they've each got him.

 

http://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeaturesImages2009/jeff_beck_showroom.jpg

 

That IS an out take from Spinal Tap.

 

Scott Fraser

[Larryz]

Brian would have looked the part but could you get him to play a Les Paul?? Jeff did a great job but I would have liked him to have more of a retro Les Paul sound on the LP to match the great vibe of the performance...

[Billster]

BUT, whose style is more immediately congruent with that of the late Mr Paul?

 

Scott Fraser

 

Jeff Beck. Back to the listening room for you

 

Les cast such a wide shadow that it's hard to not be influenced by him, but Setzer is coming from a different side of history.

[picker]

Sure, definitely Jeff Back to all the above, BUT, whose style is more immediately congruent with that of the late Mr Paul?

 

If you asked Mr Beck, he'd say his first major influence was Les Paul. He said in an interview that he had a hard time getting with groups in his early days because he wanted to sound like Les Paul.

 

Plus, no one can imitate sounds like Jeff Beck. If he can conjure up the sound from middle transition in A Day In The Life, and the sound of a sitar in Heart Full Of Soul, he can do Les Paul's sound for sure.

[Bottom End]

Out of the Beck, Page, Clapton trinity, Beck's always been my favorite, I think he can play in a wider range of styles, at least by looking at his recorded works.

[Scott Fraser]

Out of the Beck, Page, Clapton trinity, Beck's always been my favorite, I think he can play in a wider range of styles, at least by looking at his recorded works.

 

And, unlike Clapton & Page, Beck continues to grow, take chances & innovate as a player. I think he's more relevant now, in his mid-60's, than at any time in his career. And his technique is simply beyond anybody else's. Nobody sculpts notes like Beck.

 

Scott Fraser

[SF Shoim]

Imelda May is an incredible talent. I've watched the video numerous times and am convinced that she is singing the lead vocal and they are probably using some form of harmonizer with some pre-recorded backup vocals.

I'm also fairly sure that the rhythm guitarist is her husband, Darrel Higham, from her band. Not sure about the drummer & bass player.