Summer in the City: Live in New York
Singer-songwriter Joe Jackson may have ridden the contentious nerve of late-1970s new wave to his first chart triumphs, but he quickly proved he was no slave to fashion. Even earlier thanElvis Costello, Jackson utilized his commercial clout to explore a diverse, idiosyncratic musical palette that ranged from swing through reggae, Tin Pan Alley, and classical. Having seemingly forsaken pop songs altogether in the '90s for larger classically themed set pieces, this live recording of Jackson performing songs in peak form with a stripped-down trio (including Graham Maby on bass and drummer Gary Burke) should come as something of a pleasant surprise for Jackson fans. Imbued with a healthy dose of the singer's trademark musical utopianism, the set list is characterized by smart renditions of vintage, if not overexposed Jackson catalog gems, several of which are interpolated in medleys with a generous sampling of cover songs that are often as surprising as they are insightful. Paired with theYardbirds' moody "For Your Love," "Fools in Love" becomes a bluesy dirge, whileSteely Dan's "King of the World" neatly bookends Jackson's "You Can't Get What You Want" both musically and thematically. It's also a record that should smartly segue into Jackson's anticipated sequel to his biggest (and best) pop/jazz fusion success,Night and Day.--Jerry McCulley