'The Sunflower Jam' is a yearly gathering of classic rock all-stars at London's Royal Albert Hall to raise money for charity, and in 2014 the fourth event also proved to be a joyous tribute to the late keyboard maestro Jon Lord, who passed away in 2012. With an orchestra led by Paul Mann, many of Jon's past bandmates, friends, and fellow musicians showed up to join in on many of his more memorable songs from throughout his career. Lord's former band, Deep Purple, in their current incarnation, are all here, as is MkIII bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, ex-Yes keyboard legend Rick Wakeman, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, singer Paul Weller, and Jon's old mates in Whitesnake, guitarists Micky Moody & Bernie Marsden (the latter who also played with him in the short lived Paice, Ashton, & Lord band).
Some of the highlights on this 2 CD set include the blistering blues-funk classic from PAL titled "Silas and Jerome", featuring Phil Campbell on lead vocals and Marsden on lead guitar, a poignant "Soldier of Fortune" with Lord solo band vocalist Steve Balsamo sharing the stage with Sandi Thorn for a great duet, and the always impressive Hughes belting it out alongside Dickinson for a killer version of the MkIV classic "You Keep on Moving". Hughes & Dickinson also rip it up on "Burn", with Paice locked in on the drums and Don Airey saddled up next to Wakeman on Hammond & Moog respectively. Over on CD 2, Purple comes on for an extended set, launching into "Lazy", "When a Blind Man Cries", "Perfect Strangers", and "Black Night", plus a few selections from their latest release Now What?, including the great "Uncommon Man". Most of the cast comes out and joins the band for a rousing finale of "Hush", capping off this joyous evening in style.
Jon Lord left this world way too soon, but it's great to see the rock community, as well as Eagle Rock Productions, keeping his spirit alive with this fun live document. There's a great booklet filled with commentary, info on who played what, and plenty of photos from the event. Great stuff.
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Things Get Better (feat. Paul Weller)
2. I Take What I Want (feat. Paul Weller and Micky Moody)
3. Silas and Jerome (feat. Phil Campbell from The Temperance Movement, Ian Paice, Bernie Marsden)
4. I m Gonna Stop Drinking (feat. Phil Campbell from The Temperance Movement, Ian Paice, Bernie Marsden)
5. Soldier of Fortune (with Steve Balsamo, Sandi Thom and Micky Moody)
6. You Keep On Moving (with Glenn Hughes, Bruce Dickinson, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Micky Moody)
7. Burn (with Glenn Hughes, Bruce Dickison, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Rick
Wakeman)
8. This Time Around (with Glenn Hughes)
Disc 2 (by Deep Purple)
01. Uncommon Man
02. Above And Beyond
03. Lazy (feat. Stephen Bentley-Klein, violin.
04. When A Blind Man Cries
05. Perfect Strangers
06. Black Night
07. Hush (feat. Bruce Dickinson, Rick Wakeman, Phil Campbell, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody.
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