LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Mad Ink PR) - The esteemed Iridium Jazz Club of New York City and Gibson Guitar proudly announce "A Celebration of Les Paul" - two intimate evenings with the legendary guitarist
Jeff Beck on June 8 and 9. These special shows will honor the late guitar great Les Paul, whose 95th birthday would have been June 9. They will take place in the very venue he played weekly for years, including just days before his death.
Beck is honored to pay tribute to his mentor and friend; their relationship having spanned decades. Beck recalls his admiration beginning in the '60s, "When I first heard Les Paul playing 'How High the Moon,' I thought, man, that's what I want my sound to be like. Now, here I am years later and he's still a powerful influence in all that I do."
The two shows promise to be a treat for fans of both Beck and Paul, with a strong mixture of memorable Les Paul classics, as well as some rockabilly favorites. Beck will be joined on stage by the Irish rockabilly sensation The Imelda May Band.
Beck has collaborated with Imelda May several times in the past, including the track "Lilac Wine" on Beck's new album Emotion & Commotion. The two also performed Paul's "How High the Moon" live at the 2010 Grammy Awards, after which Beck declared of Paul, "I've often sung his praises to the press, but to actually get to play in tribute to him... it's such a privilege."
Tickets to the two-night event will be available exclusively through various promotions with radio, retail, print and online media partners. Details will be announced soon.
Les Paul played at The Iridium for over 12 years. The club now presents special Monday evenings dedicated to Paul featuring guitarists from all genres of music, where 20% of the door is donated to The Les Paul Foundation.
Beck's album Emotion & Commotion, his first in seven years, was released on April 13 and has registered the highest debut week in his amazing 45 year career, with over 26,000 sold and rising. His critically praised album has electrified the music establishment, debuting at No 11 on the Top 200 Billboard Chart. Beck also received his fifth Grammy award this past February for the track "A Day in the Life" from his platinum certified DVD Jeff Beck Performing This Week...Live at Ronnie Scott's The current U.S. tour begins again in Boston on June 3, including a stop at this year's Bonnaroo Festival and an appearance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival to finish the U.S. tour on June 26.
Outside of the Iridium dates, Beck is accompanied on the Emotion & Commotion U.S. tour, by his new touring band, including the Grammy award winning producer and songwriter Narada Michael Walden on drums, Rhonda Smith on bass, and Jason Rebello on keyboards.
The second leg of Beck's Emotion & Commotion Tour includes the following dates:
June
3 Boston Bank of America
4 Mashantucket Foxwoods Casino
5 Atlantic City Borgata
7 Vienna VA Wolftrap
8 New York Iridium Jazz Club
9 New York Iridium Jazz Club
11 Atlanta Chastain Park
12 Tennessee Bonnaroo
14 Montclair Wellmont Theatre
15 Asbury Park Paramount Theatre
17 Kingston UPAC Theatre
18 Rochester Rochester Festival
20 Detroit The Fillmore
21 Indianapolis Murat Centre
23 Cincinnati PNC Pavilion
25 Milwaukee Summerfest
26 Chicago Crossroads Festival
