Band Of Gypsys＜Translucent White, Red and Black Vinyl/完全生産限定盤＞

ジミ・ヘンドリックス 1970年発売『バンド・オブ・ジプシーズ』50周年記念アナログ盤(カラー・ヴァイナル)

1970年作品。'69年にエクスペリエンスは解散。ヘンドリックスは、軍隊時代の友人だったビリー・コックス(b)、『エレクトリック・レディランド』でも共演したバディ・マイルス(ds/vo)と共に、バンド・オブ・ジプシーズを結成した。彼らは、'69～'70年の大晦日から新年にかけて、ニューヨークのフィルモア・イーストに出演。本作は、そのときの模様を収めたライヴ・アルバムだ。
バンド・オブ・ジプシーズはこのあとスタジオ・アルバムを発表することなく空中分解したため、これが唯一のリリース作。また、ヘンドリックスが生前に発表した最後の作品ともなった。メンバー全員が黒人のこのバンドは、エクスペリエンスよりもソウル、ファンク色が強いのが特徴。『エレクトリック・レディランド』以降、ヘンドリックスが目指していた方向性が垣間見られる。空間を自由に飛翔するギター・プレイはもちろん、マイルスのソウルフルなヴォーカルも聴きどころだ。

発売50周年を記念して発売される今回のアナログ盤は、長年ジミ・ヘンドリックス作品のエンジニアを務めてきたエディ・クライマーによる、オリジナル・ステレオ・テープからの最新リマスタリングが施されている。

Band of Gypsys was the only live recording authorized by Jimi Hendrix before his death. It was recorded and released in order to get Hendrix out from under a contractual obligation that had been hanging over his head for a couple years. Helping him out were longtime friends Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on the drums because the Experience had broken up in June of 1969, following a show in Denver. This rhythm section was vastly different from the Experience. Buddy Miles was an earthy, funky drummer in direct contrast to the busy, jazzy leanings of Mitch Mitchell. Noel Redding was not really a bass player at all but a converted guitar player who was hired in large part because Hendrix liked his hair! These new surroundings pushed Hendrix to new creative heights. Along with this new rhythm section, Hendrix took these shows as an opportunity to showcase much of the new material he had been working on. The music was a seamless melding of rock, funk, and R&B, and tunes like "Message to Love" and "Power to Love" showed a new lyrical direction as well. Although he could be an erratic live performer, for these shows, Hendrix was on -- perhaps his finest performances. His playing was focused and precise. In fact, for most of the set, Hendrix stood motionless, a far cry from the stage antics that helped establish his reputation as a performer. Equipment problems had plagued him in past live shows as well, but everything was perfect for the Fillmore shows. His absolute mastery of his guitar and effects is even more amazing considering that this was the first time he used the Fuzz Face, wah-wah pedal, Univibe, and Octavia pedals on-stage together. The guitar tones he gets on "Who Knows" and "Power to Love" are powerful and intense, but nowhere is his absolute control more evident than on "Machine Gun," where Hendrix conjures bombs, guns, and other sounds of war from his guitar, all within the context of a coherent musical statement. The solo on "Machine Gun" totally rewrote the book on what a man could do with an electric guitar and is arguably the most groundbreaking and devastating guitar solo ever. These live versions of "Message to Love" and "Power to Love" are far better than the jigsaw puzzle studio versions that were released posthumously. Two Buddy Miles compositions are also included, but the show belongs to Jimi all the way. Band of Gypsys is not only an important part of the Hendrix legacy, but one of the greatest live albums ever. ~ Sean Westergaard