Jethro Tull - Live at Montreux 2003

Jethro Tull is one of the most successful British acts of all time with a career reaching from the late sixties to the present day. In 2003 they made their first (and so far only) visit to the Montreux Festival. Split into a semi-acoustic first half and a full on electric second half, the concert was a triumph combining newer songs such as "Dot Com", "Pavane" and "Budapest" with classic favorites. As ever Ian Anderson leads from the front with his instantly recognizable voice and inimitable style of one-legged flute playing. Album Description

At Last, Tull Gets It Right!!!

I was hesitant to buy this one: Jethro Tull has released more than a couple of DVD concerts...which ended up being truncated shows interspersed with interview footage, grainy Black & White segments ( I have NEVER understood that appeal, MTV ), etc. Up to this point, never an unedited, unadorned concert. Live at Motreaux changes that. It's a wonderful show, apparently complete. All the members are energetic, performing a great balance of classic Tull as well as new gems ( Martin Barre's acoustic segment is almost worth the price of admission alone! ). Ian Anderson is in good form; his usual witty self ( can we say frustrated comedian? ). His flute solo is phenomenal...indeed, if any member of this group should feel slighted, it would be Doane Perry, whose presumed drum solo is conspicuously absent ( maybe the price he pays as the lone American ). It's wonderful to finally experience Jethro Tull without interruptions between songs. The only number that is painful for me in this set is Aqualung...no matter how much they drop the key, Ian is really struggling to hit those notes. Otherwise, he sounds better than he has in years. And the drums finally have some punch to them! This one is a keeper, folks. The only thing that will trump this set...are you reading, Ian?...will be the release of the 1977/78 BBC and Madison Square Garden shows. Sigh...Hope Springs Eternal! November 7, 2008

My 2nd favorite live Tull

I like this almost as much as "Nothing Is Easy:Isle of Wight". Ian Anderson's voice here is much more forceful than on "Light Music", and the sound is clearly better than on "Bursting Out". My personal favorite is a powerful rendition of "Hunting Girl", and I consider the Aqualung tracks to be much better than the performances on the 1978 live album. My only complaint is that the keyboards get a bit too twiddly at times for my taste. April 16, 2008

Great Live CD

One of the earlier reviews stated that there was nothing new here. I beg to differ.
This CD.DVD shows Tull at all stages of their career. This is probably the best live CD of Jethro Tull.
Yes you hear the tired version of Agualung, Locomotive Breath. Bouree.
But you also hear Hunting Girl, Budapest and others.
Empty Cafe appears here and so does New Jig which cannot be found anywhere else on a CD but here.........This is for hardcore Tull collectors like myself............... January 29, 2008

Excellent!!!

Even though many of this songs ca be found in previous CDs/DVDs by Tull, the performance is quite excellent, and the sound quality is superb. A great night at Montreux, with a band that always finds a way to surprise me.
September 16, 2007

The Best Live Tull Release Since the 70's

There aren't too many bands around that can say they've been performing together for 40 years, but in just a few months Jethro Tull will be able to. Of those bands, even fewer can claim to be actively pushing their music in new directions, experimenting with new styles and arrangements, and even occasionally tampering with revered classic rock anthems. Tull, however, have always been able to make that claim.

This new release, recorded in 2003, is a true delight. Don't be fooled by the similarities between Live at Montreux and Living With the Past. Any true music lover could immediately tell the difference. I've never cared for Living With the Past, as it always sounded much too safe and professional to be an accurate representative of my all-time favorite band. Live at Montreux, on the other hand, is positively RAGING. Ian Anderson, at 60, is singing better than he has in 25 years, and continues to assert his ingenius mastery of the flute all throughout. Indeed, it seems that much of the warmth and range has returned to his voice in recent years (fans will remember the disastrous throat infection that left him sounding like Mark Knopfler in the later 80's and 90's). While virtually every song is a showcase for him, he truly shines in numbers like "Life Is A Long Song," "Bouree," and the much newer "Dot Com." As always, Ian is accompanied by the incomparable Martin Barre on lead guitar, whose fiery riffs and exquisite acoustic work provide the most important non-flute element of the music. His "Empty Cafe" is a great addition to the set since it's always been a little tough to appreciate him on his own (ie: without Ian). I consider Doane Perry to be a veteran member too at this point (he joined in '86 for cryin out loud) and he is particularly awesome on Live at Montreux, and is responsible for much of the youthful intensity found on the album.

It's worth noting that the rest of the band members really come into their own here. It seems that messrs Giddings, and Noyce have finally started playing more like real band members, not just professional replacements for guys who left in the 70's (although it's clear that John Evan and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond will never be truly replaced). Regardless, there's an energy present here that Tull fans will be thrilled to experience. Check out "Living in the Past," in what is easily its best incarnation to date, sporting several intense new variations on the familiar melody.

Live at Montreux is a landmark release for Jethro Tull, being the definitive recording of the band's current lineup, as well as one of their most satisfying albums in the last 20 years. Though the choice of songs is a bit predictable, there are moments of real inspiration that make it essential for fans. Just listen to "Hunting Girl" and you'll surely agree that Tull are quite far from retirement indeed. September 10, 2007

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