(Williams David Curlee)
Long Tall Sally
(Robert Blackwell / Enotris Johnson / Richard Penniman)
7. Tobacco Road 12'28
(John D Loudermilk)
8. Frankenstein 15'16
(Edgar Winter)
Total Time: 62:35
Steve Lukather ~ Guitar
Edgar Winter - Vocals, Saxophone, Keyboard & Timbales
Phil Soussan - Bass
Gary Ferguson - Drums
Design & Layout: Didier Scohier - Art direction: Alfie Falckenbach
Licensed with kind permission from ARENA MUSIC Ltd., England
in Association with ABC ENTERTAINMENT, Germany & The NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL, The Netherlands
With Thanks to Brian Adams & Giinther Kutsch.
Recorded live at the NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL - The Hague, the Netherlands, July 14,2000
Some called it the coming together of two musical giants, others the pairing of an odd couple. Fact is that when Steve Lukather and Edgar Winter, two extraordinary musicians, with more differences than similarities, both with a distinctive style, came together on stage at the NORTH SEA FESTIVAL in 2000. they had already achieved near-legendary status during the course of their own individual careers.
Before becoming a founding member of "Toto", that giant multi-platinum selling West Coast Rock band ("Hold The Line", "Africa", and "Roseanna"). Steve Lukather started his career as a studio musician. His guitar contributions can be heard on an abundant number of great albums by notable artists of dissimilar plumage, such as: Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Boz Scaggs, Chicago, and Ozzie Osbourne. and that's just namedropping half a dozen out of a list of hundreds.
Originally influenced by Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, Steve developed his own unique guitar style, which includes Rock and Jazz ingredients and is played with jaw-dropping perfection and electrifying intensity. Needless to say that, in turn, he influenced a great number of other aspiring guitarists.
Edgar Winter, a singer and multi-instrumentalist (he plays keyboards, saxophones and various percussion instruments), is the younger brother of Texas-Blues-Rock legend Johnny Winter. After recording with his brother for a spell. Edgar recorded two successful solo albums Entrance' and "Edgar Winter's White Trash". His biggest success however was with 'The Edgar Winter Group', which included Rick Derringer and Ronnie Montrose. With Rick and Ronnie, Edgar recorded "They Only Come Out At Night", which featured his US number one hit. "Frankenstein". Parallel to Lukather. the younger Winter also often "merged" Rock, Blues and Jazz.
Having also collaborated with musicians such as Rick Oerringer. David Lee Roth and Ringo Starr, and having had a lot of his music featured in the soundtracks of films, Edgar was equally well prepared to team up with Steve Lukather.
Backed by the talented Phil Soussan on bass, and Gary Ferguson on drums, the odd couple's live performance at the NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL was a powerful demonstration of technical prowess and skilful improvisation without falling into the gaping hole of self-indulgence which many of their peers often disappear into when embarking onto this type of "clash-of-titans" performances. You can hear they were having fun. enjoying themselves, and in the process treated their audience to an unforgettable night of Rock & Roll.
The odd couple dipped into each other's repertoire; performing Winter's "Fly Away' and 'Frankenstein', with breathtaking guitar highlights on some Lukather-penned tracks, exemplified by "Song For Jeff", his tribute to deceased Toto-drummer Jeff Porcaro.
Their outrageously fun medley "Johnny  Goode", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Long Tall Sally" made these classic Rock 'N'Roll songs sound as fresh as ever while injecting them with a contemporary dynamic.
An evening of real music for real people - not always easy to come by these days.
Alfie Falekaibach - August 2010
