Classically Blue Live - Geoff Achison and Adrian Keating - New Release Review

I have just received the newest release, Classically Blue Live, a new CD/DVD live recording from Geoff Achison and Adrian Keating. This recording is much more fusion and ballad than blues but interesting just the same. The first track, Each Long Day is a well composed track with very clean classically executed guitar intro, smooth fusion oriented violin work by Adrian Keating and further electric guitar exchanges with Achison and Keating. Julia Day plays flawlessly on drums and Tim Sampson plays driving articulated bass lines. You And I is a strong ballad accompanied primarily by acoustic guitar with orchestral backing. One Ticket, One Ride is a rock style track with a bit of funk making it a catchy track. Bridge gets back to the more sophisticated time signatures of a fusion track but with a bit more vocal that is typically associated with this type of music. It is really quite well orchestrated and instrumentally interesting. Apparatus opens with a very unusual funky guitar riff which continues throughout with guitar pyrotechnics. Very interesting. Kissing Angels is again a solid ballad backed with violin and articulated acoustic guitar. My Little Bag takes a walk in the Steeley Dan vein with a poppy track and danceable rhythm with some flashy guitar riffs dashed in here and there. There are some obtuse guitar solo's on this track that I really think are quite daring and exciting. Blew My Top has a strong rock beat held down by Achison's vocals. There is a slower instrumental break in this track adding theatrics and dynamics. Stepping Stones is a bluesy jazz track with some cool guitar harmonics on the intro. It's Over closes the recording, opening with a really luscious violin solo. The track morphs into a pop style rock track which could easily garner a lot of airplay. This track has a particularly strong guitar and violin lead making it one of the strongest tracks overall. I also had the opportunity to review the DVD which accompanies this recording and the band is very entertaining to watch with huge warmth with the strings backing the vocal/guitar unit.
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