Garth and Maud Hudson

"LIVE at the WOLF"

Make it Real Records

Being in the presence of one musical genius is intoxicating enough, but make it two, and my God, you’ve just about got nirvana.

Such as it is with this absolute gem of a record, an aural celebration of the 25th anniversary of the personal and musical journey together of keyboard virtuoso Garth Hudson and his wife, vocalist extraordinaire Maud Hudson, and the simultaneous christening of the brand new, at the time, Wolf Performance Hall in Garth’s hometown of London, Ontario, Canada.

You could, then, call this a homecoming of sorts for Garth Hudson, whose legend and renown still echoes through these environs, but the gorgeous piano playing of Garth, an unsung joy within his more well known organ and electric keyboard work with the Band, and Maud’s so down home and so strong voice, allow them to make just about any stage they inhabit their home.

And, the breadth of the singing and playing abounds with joy. Garth opens with the jazzy instrumental original “Every Time I See the Sun,” seemingly channeling both Art Tatum and Keith Jarrett as well as any good honky tonk you’ve ever been in. Maud joins on a beautiful, yet melancholy reading of the classic “It Makes No Difference,” a tribute to the late Band bassist Rick Danko. Listen to Maud bring tears to your eyes with this reading, and, then when you about can’t take any more emotion, hear her whisper, barely audibly, “we love you, Rick” at the very end. Add to that the spice of “Willow Weep For Me,” “Young Blood,” an hypnotic reading of Dylan’s “Blind Willie McTell,” and a gorgeous, breathy duet of the Band’s standard “The Weight,” interspersed with a virtual musical history by Garth on the piano (with bits of accordion), and you’ve got just about the best you can get.

Here’s to another 25 years, at least, of breathtaking music, and yes, life, from the amazing Garth and Maud Hudson.

- Mark T. Gould

*****