Chris Duarte & Bluestone - Live House enn Sendai, Japan 1/11/06 [2006, Blues, DVD5]

This limited edition DVD, filmed on a stationary single house camera at Club enn in Sendai, Japan in January 2006 shows what Chris Duarte fans have known all along : That while his albums are great, seeing this guitarist live can be a transcendent musical experience. Backed by tight Japanese blues rockers Bluestone(formerly The Savoy Truffle) the nearly three hour concert document smokes and then some. Consisting of material from both Duarte and Savoy Truffle, this is harder edged than his studio performances, coming off as a cross between Gov't Mule and The Allman Brothers with a slice of Hendrix for good measure, resulting in an amazing night of heavy blues based music which is sure to please long time fans and probably will pick up new ones as well.
Ranging from Duarte faves "My Way Down," "Cleopatra" and "Big Legged Woman" to fierce versions of soon to be Bluestone/SavoyTruffle standouts "Chevrolet," "Lowdown Blues," and "Out In The Rain," the 21 songs here show all the players in their best light. This is very much a band effort, which allows the musicians to shine collectively. At times slowing down a bit to be reflective, for the most part this is a truly blistering, guitar based performance. I don't know how long they had to rehearse before this show, but as the majority of the band has been together for years, there's a unity not unlike when The Black Crowes backed Jimmy Page some years back. Very tight indeed, which must've benefited the Austin, Texas based axeman, allowing him to soar to a higher plane. Having two drummers adds rhythmically, lending a jazz like complexity at times. The sound, straight from the soundboard mix brings out each instrument in great clarity.
While this was, as previously stated, filmed on a single camera, meaning there are no cut aways, fades, pans or closeups, it doesn't take away from the first class music presented here. For while the crowd is certainly reserved, the performances certainly aren't. Playing with this band seems to have pushed Duarte on to new heights as he alternatively makes his Strat growl, scream and cry, all with supreme authority. Co guitarist Toshihiro Sumitomo combines to pull off some very Allman Brothers- like dual guitar lines, with a more earthy hard rock side, and he more than holds his own, going toe to toe effortlessly. A fantastic player in his own right, if he were from the U.S. he'd certainly be listed as one of the rising stars of the blues himself. While the single camera format might be a turn off to some used to the more glitzy "professional" quality of mass produced efforts, this is exactly what went on that night, a "warts and all" prime example of stellar blues of the first order, and thus is certainly recommended.