He sings alone - JEFF BUCKLEY January 19th 1995 (Jeff Buckley - live)

Member Name: moongod

Product:	Jeff Buckley - live
Date:	05/03/02 (212 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simply superb

Disadvantages: You are left wanting more

A shocking, sad event. And Jeff Buckley's death passed like a raindrop into a puddle of a thunderstorm, almost as an afterthought. But some of us noticed, and I was not initially one of them. I grieve more for him than most others I have lost, which says something is very wrong with me. He was born into my life with my love for music, and this is how I will remember him...

The sign on the door reads 'Sold Out'. A series of much praised live appearances and the release of the stunning debut album 'Grace' have made it inevitable that they would be turning people away tonight. As support act, Bettie Serveert rattle through an excellent set of tracks from their 'Lamprey' album, the room gradually fills until moving from the spot is inconceivable. By the time Jeff takes to the stage, even breathing seems like a distant memory. It is a night dogged throughout by technical problems. Songs are started, halted, abandoned. A guitar being tuned becomes the loneliest sound in the world. Then Buckley apologises again and the band launches into another song. The restless buzzing of the crowd is halted as Buckley begins to sing. The music shifts effortlessly from a delicate Cocteau blur to thunderous Zeppelin rock, through which Buckley weaves folkish melodies with a voice that seems capable of miracles. It's everywhere, bending his lyrics into impossible shapes and ten abandoning them in favour of a wordless howl. No one sings along, but we wish we could. For now, Jeff Buckley sings alone.

***

Jeff Buckley was born in California in 1966, son of TimBuckley who died when Jeff was 2. His remarkable talent emerged during a spate of performances in New York during the early 90s. He painted beautiful pictures with his words and seemed to have an ethereal yet real relationship with his songs. His influences were eclectic, but his at times angelic voice was honed by his days as a choirboy and his love for gospe
l - critics, musicians and fans lauded his musical talent in droves.

In '93, he played on his electric guitar at a small coffeehouse in the East Village, singing songs that seemed to come from his heart. The recording resulted in the EP 'Live At Sin-é'. When it was released he was already recording 'Grace' with Mick Grondahl, Matt Johnson and producer Andy Wallace. Michael Tighe played on 'So Real' and joined the band shortly after. The results were sublime and timeless. Grace was released in 1994 and was surrounded by extensive worldwide touring.

Grace began to win awards, the first of which was the "Gran Prix International Du Disque -- Academie Charles CROS -- 1995" choosen by a jury of music industry professionals. Gold records arrived in plenitude and Jeff toured solo under pseudonyms to test out new material. He stayed in Memphis whilst he worked with the new songs, playing them at Barristers at regular Monday night solo slots. The last of these was on Monday May 26, 1997.

Jeff Buckley drowned in Memphis on 29th May 1997. It was an accident.

Work had already begun recording 'Sketches for my Sweetheart, The Drunk'. Columbia released this post-humously in 1998, followed by Mystery White Boy live album in 2000 and Live at L'Olympia in 2001. All good, but it is Grace that was Jeff Buckley's legacy to the world. An amazing achievement for a lifetime. We have lost an extraordinary voice.

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