RICK WAKEMAN – Live In Concert 2000

Live in Concert 2000 is a little bit different from Rick Wakeman’s other DVD releases, because it showcases his incredible talent as a solo artist with no band supporting him this time. But you could ask “Does Rick Wakeman really need a band to headline a show?”. And the answer is of course not. The great man does it own his own. Just give him a keyboard and he’s going to make a fantastic show out of that.

The gig featured on this DVD was recorded during his solo tour in the United Kingdom in 2000. The set rounds off dozen tracks that are mainly piano led compositions, but of course you’ll also find most of the classic Wakeman numbers like Catherine Howard/Catherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour and Guinevere/Lancelot and the Black Knight. It seems that Journey wasn’t played that night or maybe it just didn’t make the album, because of its length? I don’t know, but anyway here you are some really entertaining piano pieces as Pachabel… Canon in D, Birdman of Alcatraz, Seasons of Change and the sad, melancholic, but yet beautiful Children of Chernobyl. Besides you also get a great arrangement of two Yes favorites (And You And I, Wondrous Stories) and two from The Beatles (Help, Eleanor Rigby).

Also you can enjoy Wakeman’s fascinating and funny stories in between the songs. The guy is a real storyteller and has his own charm to get all the attention of the audience. He easily proves again that he’s still one of the greatest keyboarders of all time whether he plays with or without a band.

The DVD also features a photo gallery, a year by year biography and six studio audio tracks as an encore. And if that’s still not enough for you just check out the free bonus CD with the audio material of the same show. It’s without the narration, just the music itself plus one more track (Merlin the Magician) which isn’t on the DVD. Doesn’t it sound like a good investment? I think it is, because Live in Concert 2000 is an amazing package and a definitive purchase for all Wakeman fans.