Jeff Beck has a new album coming out on April 13, Emotion and Commotion. I don't always love Jeff Beck's new music, but I appreciate that it's never lazy or contrived. He does what he wants to do, not what is commercial, and he doesn't put out an album simply because he hasn't put one out in two years or whatever. He still really pushes boundaries, which you really can't say about many of his peers (and even former bandmates). The album features Jeff using an orchestra on a few songs, and working with a few different singers: Joss Stone, Imelda May (who sang with him at the Grammys) and Olivia Safe. After spending his entire solo career on Epic Records, this one will be on Rhino. He also has a new touring band, which, surprisingly includes a former collaborator: drummer Narada Michael Walden. Walden is interesting: on one hand, he's done some really complex musical things, including working on Jeff's Wired album, but also records by Robert Fripp and Jaco Pastorius. On the other hand, he produced #1 singles for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and and Starship. Anyway, the rest of Jeff's band includes keyboardist Jason Rebello (who has been in Jeff's band for a few years), and bassist Rhonda Smith, who has played for Prince, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Little Richard. As I've mentioned, Jeff will be touring with another ex-Yardbird, Eric Clapton, and then going on his own tour.
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