Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo

For this 2014 engagement at Tokyo's Dome City Hall, Jeff Beck and his versatile band—featuring guitarist Nicolas Meier, bassist Rhonda Smith, and drummer Jonathan Joseph—serve up a 21-song, fusion-heavy set that combines covers with original material, including a contribution from Meier (“Yemin”), who is a solo recording artist from Switzerland. Also notable here are a sensitive reading of the Irish standard “Danny Boy” and a dreamy version of the Beatles' “A Day in the Life.” At their most dynamic, the band works up a metallic head of steam (opening track “Loaded”), but the mid-tempo pieces aren't a world away from the generic instrumental rock that fueled the action-oriented cop shows of the 1980s. All of the players carry their weight, but Smith, a former Prince associate, makes the biggest impression by fluidly switching between acoustic, electric, and fretless bass. She also adds vocals to “Rollin' and Tumblin'” and “Why Give It Away,” the only non-instrumentals. If many songs bleed into one another, the enthusiastic audience doesn't seem to mind, although one fan's callout request for “Beck's Boogie” goes unanswered. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include bonus interviews with Beck and band members. Sure to appeal to fans, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)