5 great live recordings you’ll never tire of
It’s a case of Sophie’s Choice for me selecting these five amazing live performances, but I want to share these live recordings for their power, their virtuosity, and all the human emotions from both artist and the lucky people who were there at these historic recordings. They all are treasures that allow us to partake, even though we weren’t there. And these are gems that I will never tire of. There are many, many others I can’t include in this short list, but these five are all outstanding.
Mercedes Sosa, diva of the dispossessed, sang songs that echoed the hopes and dreams of millions in Argentina and beyond. This recording took place in February 1982 in the Teatro Colon Opera House in Buenos Aires just as the evil dictatorship was falling. The rapture of the enthralled audience cheering for their favorite singer is palpable and compelling.
John Coltrane had been with Miles for two years and was about to go his own separate way. But not before recording a version of “On Green Dolphin Street” that contains one of the most amazing saxophone solos of any he ever did with Miles.
Baden Powell, the great Brazilian guitarist who came of age with Jobim, Joao Gilberto and Vinicius de Moraes, was in top form this night in 1975 in Frankfurt, Germany. His guitar work on this recording is so powerful and amazing, yet also delicate and filled with finesse. Ask any good guitar player and they’ll tell you that Baden Powell is God. Find out why with this recording.
This is a “descarga” or jam session, done by New York City’s best latin musicians of the day, and remains a mambo classic. On this night there were hundreds of people waiting at the door to get in, and the jam session lasted until four in the morning.
Richter, along with Vladimir Horowitz, was one of the greatest Russian pianists of all time. With a solo performance this grand, who needs an orchestra?
