<<A lot of
MOA seems to be the band saying "here, listen to ME!!" >>
Not that I totally disagree, Steve, but what parts of MOA are you specifically
referring to? Their support of Joni always sounded very 'band-like' to me. (You have
24 hours for homework if needed) The band that said "Listen to ME" was her '79 band,
not that that was a bad thing because it was a group of virtuosos, but they all had
their solo sections and everything. I don't remember much of that on MOA, maybe it was
different at the shows you attended.
<<Compare it
to the exquisitley (sp) understated work of the Blade/Isham/Klein/
Liesz ensemble of the '98 shows - they played incredibly well, but
everything they did served the singer and the song - there was no showing off.>>
I wouldn't want to confuse a well-placed, well-executed solo with showing off. One of
the highlights of the show in Atlanta was Greg Liesz' rockin' solo on Black Crow.
Blade & Klein are indeed the most complementary rhythm section...present but not
overpowering.
And where does her '83 road band fit into the picture?
Bob
NP: Ani, "Hour Follows Hour"
