Under his own J&R Adventures label, blues-rock icon JOE BONAMASSA has released his most recent live CD and DVD, titled Live at the Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra.
This magnificent compilation brings to life Bonamassa’s momentous performance in the storied Hollywood Bowl, where he was accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra, to create a musical extravaganza of epic proportions.
Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra highlights the masterful blues-rock fusion that Bonamassa is famed for, while also enhancing fan-favorite songs with opulent orchestral arrangements by some of Hollywood’s best, including David Campbell, Trevor Rabin, and Jeff Bova.
“Very few gigs represent my journey in music more than the Hollywood Bowl. I moved to Los Angeles in 2003 in search of opportunity and cheaper rent than New York City.
My first gig at The Mint was attended by 5 of my friends and that’s all. We have played The Greek Theatre many times since, but the Bowl has always been a dream. The orchestra and the sheer scale of the event and venue is something I will never forget,” says Bonamassa.
Bonamassa blends unique guitar talent with the grandeur of a full orchestra, to portray vigour, courage, and contemplative spirit…
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The album’s lead single, a captivating live performance of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Twenty-Four Hour Blues,” is a smart and skillful piece with some of Bonamassa’s most potent & granular vocals to date. The number features piercingly delicate guitar-play of the type that possesses the fluid consistency of honey and the translucency gemstones. A truly excellent performance!
One of the disc’s most powerful pieces, “The Last Matador of Bayonne,” blends Bonamassa’s unique guitar talent with the grandeur of a full orchestra, to portray the vigour, courage, and contemplative spirit of a matador facing his fate.
The tasteful arrangement presents a striking tale of thwart and foresight and features a mesmerising trumpet solo by seasoned Dave Matthews Band member Rashawn Ross, and was arranged by acclaimed composer David Campbell, who also orchestrated the strings for Adele’s 30 and The Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds.
Bonamassa offers a cloudsmoke vocal performance that strikes a true balance between forgiveness and anguish, while his guitar majesty rivals the twilight serenade played on the trumpet by Ross. Fantastic!
Bonamassa’s performance strikes a true balance between forgiveness & anguish…
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Prisoner (video shared below) a song of unending prayer made popular by Barbra Streisand on the Love Theme from Eyes of Laura Mars, (written by the blues singer-songwriter Karen Lawrence) opens with sky-waves of translucid guitar that soar across a sky of hope. This is meltingly genuine and filled with emotion; Bonamassa’s vocal is complemented by Reese Wynans’ marmalade organ notes.
With perfect lines of flowing amethyst guitar, superb orchestration, and a driven & dedicated song-voice… this was an incredible concert event—one of the best blues presentations ever witnessed, and now safeguarded on CD/DVD and vinyl formats for all-time, to become a landmark of rock-blues integrity. Diamonded superbrilliancy!
Check out the poster for UK 2025 Live Dates (below).
Words: © Neil Mach
Photos Credit: © Christie Goodwin
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