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Rick Danko Band - Live on Breeze Hill Review

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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This reissue was originally released in September of 1999, barely two months before Danko passed away. Danko was for many years one of the lead singers with The Band and most of the set list here is comprised of songs associated with that group. The poignant "Twilight," "Stagefright" and the New Orleans-flavored "Ophelia" come early in the show as does the hillbilly gospel of "Blaze of Glory" and a funky cover of J.J. Cale's "Crazy Mama." Even though this is a live recording it comes close to sounding perfect; that's understandable given that Danko was a 40-year veteran musician and his sidemen here include stellar players like sax man Lenny Picket and fellow alum of The Band Garth Hudson. Danko pulls out "Caledonia Mission" from The Band's Rock of Ages album before heading into the bouncy "Shape I'm In" and then closing with the double-whammy of the organ rave-up "Chest Fever" and the haunting "It Makes No Difference." A bonus studio cut is included, a re-worked version of "Sip the Wine," a tune that was originally found in a live incarnation on the The Last Waltz soundtrack. Danko was working on a studio album at the time of his death; if any material was actually finished it may or may not ever be released. That means that Live on Breeze Hill is most likely Danko's final gift to his fans and he couldn't have offered a finer keepsake.


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Rick Danko Band - Live on Breeze Hill
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