TRAFFIC — On the Road (review)

TRAFFIC — On the Road album cover Live album · 1973 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
seyo
This live set begins with the storming avalanche of "John Barleycorn" openers "Glad/Freedom Ryder", which will continue till the end of the record. What a superb musical performance it must have been, watching them live in concert!

The extended TRAFFIC line-up with phenomenal conga player Kwakuh Baah and additional drummer, bassist and organist is one of the best live acts I ever heard. Extended jams of compositions taken from their three celebrated and easily the best albums ("John Barleycorn Must Die", "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" and "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory") leads you to a wonderful world of improvisation, masterful solo parts (especially Winwood on rare electric guitar, Kwakuh on congas, Wood on wah-wah-ed saxophone) and wild and playful performance.

While Capaldi's "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" is maybe not the best selection from the masterpiece album "Low Sparks...", its extended version here is improved by Capaldi's lively presentation of individual band members. The title track of that album is nicely performed although I will always prefer the studio version due to its incredible fuzzed organ solo that is lacking in a live performance.

If you like extended jam playing in a jazz-rock style, you should definitely get this album, because it's one of the best and unfortunately one of the most shamelessly overlooked live albums in the "classic rock" history. ****1/2 stars for excellent live performance, masterful solos and Stevie Winwood's solo guitar.
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