After already releasing several excellent instructional guitar videos over the last decade, Robben Ford finally delivered his fans their long awaited concert video in 2003, which featured his 1993 appearance on the German television show Ohne Filter - Musik Pur. The DVD was simply titled In Concert, and it captured a scorching blues-rock set by Ford and his early '90s power trio, the Blue Line.
Ford returned to Germany in 1997, during a tour in support of his highly acclaimed new album at the time, Tiger Walk, and made his second appearance on the Ohne Filter show. If only we had such quality live music shows here in the U.S. Ford's remarkable Ohne Filter: Revisited performance has now finally been released on DVD, and it makes for the perfect companion to his first visit to the show.
Although Ford had recently parted ways with his Blue Line brothers before the Tiger Walk sessions began, he had once again surrounded himself with a remarkable group of musicians for the ensuing tour, this time adding some keyboards to the mix, with Deron Johnson, as well as recruiting Chris Chaney on the bass, and Gary Novak on the drums.
Tiger Walk was Robben Ford's self-described "guitar album", and this all-instrumental affair really allowed him to showcase his rock, blues, and jazz fusion chops like no other. The nine song Ohne Filter: Revisited setlist features five songs from Tiger Walk, as well as four from his previous album, Handful of Blues. The performance kicks off with one of Tiger Walk's most rocking tracks, "Just Like It Is", which highlights Ford's masterful use of the wah-wah pedal. Deron Johnson's tasty Hammond B-3 playing is also featured prominently here, along with most of the other Tiger Walk tracks, and is what really sets this performance apart from the first Ohne Filter DVD.
These Ohne Filter releases have certainly been a godsend to concert DVD fans like myself, but their sub-60 minute run times can definitely leave you more frustrated than satisfied. I do realize that all of the performances must be edited to conform to the one hour TV show length, but it's a shame that some of the edited out songs could not have been restored for these DVD releases. Hell, after the first song you even hear Robben telling the audience that he just played TWO songs from the new album, so you know he played more than the nine songs that are featured on this DVD.
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Article comments
1 - Pico
I've raved over Robben's music a time or two here. While I haven't seen this DVD, the music he covers on it are from IMO two of his best albums. You're bang on in calling his playing effortless and fluid. Just an amazing player.