Jean-Michel Jarre November 22, 2016 - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam (NL) In the past five years I was lucky to witness gigs by a variety of great bands and artists that I was eager to see one time in my life: Kansas, Booker T. & The MG's, Vanilla Fudge (see review), Eric Burdon, PFM (see review), Seasick Steve, Jan Akkerman (see review), Brian Setzer and .. on this evening the pioneering French electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre. In 1976 he changed the world of modern music with his innovative album Oxygene. It was a huge boost for many (young) musicans to buy synthesizers and sequencers and make electronic music or incorporate these instruments in their sound.
In a crowded Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam a cheerful and relaxed monsieur Jarre presented a setlist with the emphasis on the early albums Oxygene and Equinoxe and on his two new albums. He was supported by two excellent multi-instrumentalists named Stéphane Gervais and Claude Samard Polikar. Most of his new material contains catchy rhythms and tight beats. I was told that this is 'trance' music. Well, in combination with a mindblowing, very sophisticated lightshow (especially the wonderful layers of lasers), Jarre succeeded to generate more and more excitement in the crowd during the concert as often I could hear 'wow' around me. A personal highlight was the mellow Souvenirs De Chine featuring a pleasant soaring synthesizer sound. Of course the worldwide hit Oxygene IV was played, in a fine extensive version and the fans loved it. Halfway through the concert, Jarre paid tribute to the 'NSA whistleblower' Edward Snowdon. In the famous UK newspaper The Guardian Jarre said (April 2016): 'When I first read about Edward Snowdon, it made me think of my mother.
This was my first Jean-Michel Jarre gig and it turned out to be unforgettable. What an exciting musical and what a mindblowing visual experience! Thumbs up for Jean-Michel Jarre on the blending of these two elements in a perfect way (like Pink Floyd and Rush)! Erik Neuteboom (edited by Robert James Pashman) |
Setlist Jean-Michel Jarre: The Heart Of Noise Automatic (Part 2) Oxygène 2 Circus Web Spinner Exit Équinoxe 7 Conquistador Oxygène 8 Zero Gravity Souvenirs De Chine Immortals Brick England The Architect Oxygène 4 Équinoxe 4 Glory The Time Machine Encore: Oxygène 17 Stardust |
Pictures
Jean-Michel Jarre by Erik Neuteboom Click on the picture to enlarge.
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