Live At Rockpalast 1980, 1983 and 1990
MIG, 2019
REVIEW BY: Mark Kadzielawa
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/16/2020
Jack Bruce achieved glory and immortality as the member of the legendary Cream. Even if he didn’t do anything afterwards, he would still be celebrated as one of the greats. Bruce continued to work and tour as an active musician. He went on releasing 14 studio records and was involved in several projects that also released albums. He stayed prolific up until the end of his life. 
This wonderful set celebrated Jack Bruce live at the Rockpalast, a show he visited at different times of his career. This box set combined all of his solo performances from 1980, 1983, and 1990. It’s a lavish treat for all Bruce fans who get to have all of these gems in one set. And just like every other Rockpalast, release you get the visual and audio content. The whole set consists of two DVDs and five CDs.
Musically, Jack Bruce always presents the classics he is known for; that’s an unescapable route of every classic rock performer. But in addition to what is always expected, Bruce also played what he was promoting at the moment. He was not afraid to go for some of the deeper cuts. Bruce took a lot of chances with his solo material. He was a very adventurous performer, always ready for a new challenge.
The three concerts included here show a very interesting overview of Bruce’s solo career. While the 1980 and 1983 shows are somewhat close in their delivery, it’s the 1990 concert that truly sets things apart. What’s visible here is the experience gained during this time. Bruce certainly got better with age, and while many will argue the point, this writer is still under that impression. Having said that, every single one of these concerts is great, and would certainly stand out if released individually.
Rockpalast is an amazing show that allowed many acts to be documented at a certain time in their career. It’s great that these releases finally see the light of day and everyone around the world is able to enjoy them. Yes, there are flaws, but nobody’s perfect – although Jack Bruce comes very close to achieving just that.
This wonderful set celebrated Jack Bruce live at the Rockpalast, a show he visited at different times of his career. This box set combined all of his solo performances from 1980, 1983, and 1990. It’s a lavish treat for all Bruce fans who get to have all of these gems in one set. And just like every other Rockpalast, release you get the visual and audio content. The whole set consists of two DVDs and five CDs.
Musically, Jack Bruce always presents the classics he is known for; that’s an unescapable route of every classic rock performer. But in addition to what is always expected, Bruce also played what he was promoting at the moment. He was not afraid to go for some of the deeper cuts. Bruce took a lot of chances with his solo material. He was a very adventurous performer, always ready for a new challenge.
The three concerts included here show a very interesting overview of Bruce’s solo career. While the 1980 and 1983 shows are somewhat close in their delivery, it’s the 1990 concert that truly sets things apart. What’s visible here is the experience gained during this time. Bruce certainly got better with age, and while many will argue the point, this writer is still under that impression. Having said that, every single one of these concerts is great, and would certainly stand out if released individually.
Rockpalast is an amazing show that allowed many acts to be documented at a certain time in their career. It’s great that these releases finally see the light of day and everyone around the world is able to enjoy them. Yes, there are flaws, but nobody’s perfect – although Jack Bruce comes very close to achieving just that.
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