Jimmy Page | The Session Man

Before the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page was one of the most in-demand session guitarrists in Britain. On september 1965, a British magazine met up with Jimmy to talk about his career as a session musician and his first solo single, among other things.
Plus, bonus solos from Jimmy Page's session days.

[@samr.england613]

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy! Love you man! (Like hundreds of millions of others across the world.)

[@robertacolarette1594]

The more I hear about Jimmy the more I’m amazed at how he was actually a wiz kid at such a young age. He was destined for super stardom.

[@troddy3925]

What also made Zeppelin what they were, was Jimmy’s Production skills. Having spent so much time in the studios, he learned about sound recording. So you had an amazing guitarist, who knew what kinda band he wanted to put together. And how to record and produce tracks. Then add fellow studio musician John Paul Jones, a heavy-hitting drummer, and a screaming banshee. And the rest is History.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

But can he play the Smoke on the Water lick?

[@davefryer4530]

@@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394 🤣

[@flyingfishsurf]

You forgot to mention that they were the best at ripping off many great songwriters. Despite that, they're still one of the greatest bands of all time.

[@douglaschristine8387]

You said it all T. Roddy. The best of the best and just kids really. My first album was Led Zeppelin 2 and every song was great.

[@REALwoombath]

Also stealing other people's work, it helped early quite a bit.

[@cjo2012]

hello whoever posted this please do a full length documentary. This is by far the best pre yardbirds documentary on jimmy ever posted

[@craigcampbell6690]

Was Great.Wish it was Longer 😎

[@victorformosa2825]

5 minutes is simply not enough about his session days.

[@reuireuiop0]

I'm so much into Jimmy's sessions work, I keep forgetting what Big Name bands he was in :p

[@niefmer]

Yeah, it would be nice to include session work he did for The Who, The Kinks, Donovan, etc. But even this bit was great.

[@goodcitizen6193]

@@reuireuiop0 Like who? lol

[@murilogoulart4935]

James Patrick Page, the juggernaut of Valhalla, the best guitar man EVER. Simply BRILLIANT 👏 👌 😀 Greetings from Danmark 🤜 🇩🇰 🤛

[@mode1charlie170]

5 years after starting guitar he is a number one session musician……crazy

[@Frank-sm9yl]

And he learned to play by listening to songs and a music book

[@FlipDahlenburg]

He thought the studio gigs were a closed door! His mistake! Someone Independent believed in him.

[@hitmanhatton]

He must have practiced every day for hours

[@pinkpantherer]

Being talented is one thing but pursuing that talent to such a degree is incredible and thus inspiring.True legend

[@sidviscous5959]

if I didn't know better, I'd say his early stuff sounds like rockabilly crossed with surf guitar . . . which makes me like him that much more.

[@HektorBandimar]

What a wonderful life he has had.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

His 60’s solos are killer! You can hear where he was key agent transforming blues and rockabilly into modern rock

[@FenceThis]

He was quite alright but also quite generic, non inventive and not really breaking any new ground

[@user-vr2le8jb4d]

@@FenceThis He did enough of that with led motherfucking zeppelin lmao

[@annoyingbstard9407]

@@user-vr2le8jb4d Do me a favour! Led zeppelin just hitched a ride on musical trend.

[@jeffgrider5475]

Hammer of the God's

[@jayannakelley9051]

@@annoyingbstard9407 - You are annoying. Scroll on past if you don’t care for Zep. I don’t post negative comments on bands/musicians I’m not in to.

[@elmolewis9123]

Kudos to the researchers and video editors for the material.

[@markh.9822]

He is a session man...a chord progression...a top musician

[@familydogg1234]

He is not paid to THINK just PLAYYYYYYYY

[@sicotshit7068]

@@familydogg1234unlike you, he can do two things at once, or more. Guess you didn’t listen, he was free to play solos how he wanted.

[@jamierobertson9832]

This young man had huge talent, I hope he managed to make a few bucks out of his guitar

[@rrock2025]

I hope your talent of posting comments pays off.

[@lazyrrr2411]

#JamieRobertson Agreed . If this fellow minds his P's & Q's , and keeps his nose to the grindstone , he should have a reasonable shot at the Big Time

[@billbrasky12]

With all that talent..amazing..he made Zep..yet each piece was key too. I just wonder if conquest of the world taught him the empty quest...

[@jamessenzel5942]

I would think just a few bucks. lol

[@oreldm]

It's hard to believe this was the same guy who looked like he couldn't even play at the Atlantic Records 1988 reunion.

[@666blitzz5]

It only took Jimmy Page 5 years to become Jimmy Page.

[@jonathanhathaway7796]

Leave My Kitten Alone is by far my favorite Page session solo, just manic from start to finish. The other people in the studio must have had their jaws on the floor.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I agree, that solo is brilliant. I can't think of any solos from 1964 that sounded like this. Manic, as you say, is the best way to describe it.

[@gomezthechimp1116]

well pretty much every decade from the 50s until 2000s

[@richsackett3423]

It's an old-fashioned rockabilly solo. Straight out of 1958. Not sure what you're gushing about. Yeah, their jaws must have dropped from its corniness.

[@mwmingram]

@@YesterdaysPapers In fact it sounds like it might have been sped-up...

[@antarcticorb9197]

@@richsackett3423 there's always a party pooper in the crowd...congrats, the floor is yours.

[@johnywhy4679]

Amazing. So glad his playing became what it became.

[@geisterfer]

Great vid. It shows just how good Page was at such a young age.

[@smkh2890]

This is really useful, to know that Jimi Page didn't just appear out of nowhere.

[@AREA6]

The story about how he and Jeff Beck hooked up (through Jeff's sister) when both were very young is also very charming. It's detailed on the "The Jeff Beck Story - Still on the Run" DVD. Be sure to check that out for another angle into Mr. Page's formative years.

[@groverbaker6404]

Beck...Clapton...Page...jimmy always blew me away with his guitar vocabulary...Killer riff master...the best

[@jimmypage7275]

Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 🥰 and I hope you never stop being a fan, I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.🤍

[@groverbaker6404]

@@jimmypage7275 thank you sir...honored

[@jimmypage7275]

@@groverbaker6404 957

[@jimmypage7275]

@@groverbaker6404 @ G mail

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day yesterday's papers ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@SimonSozzi7258]

This is awesome. I never knew how to find all the work he had done. It's amazing to hear him playing solos and riffs on all these old songs I've never heard before. Really great stuff. I'm super excited for the upcoming 'Becoming Led Zeppelin'. I can't wait! Thanks.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

Jimmy Page is one cool cat, always has been, always will be 🎸✨ Thank goodness for the Marquee Club in London for discovering him :)

[@YesterdaysPapers]

So true. So many talented artists and bands got their start at the Marquee club. It's amazing.

[@tonybates7870]

Mike Leander was Gary Glitter's manager too. Obviously he had an antenna for guys into underage girls . . .

[@spudwas]

One of Jimmy's last session work in 1968 was one of his best Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" guitar solo. Although I always loved his guitar work on Herman's Hermits "Listen People."

[@buckshot6481]

Best guitarist of the era period, pure genius.

[@apegrasshoplizard]

3rd after Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana and that is being generous. Nick Drake is more my cup of tea.

[@markfrost2707]

twice the guitarist of Hendrix. Hendrix never even TOUCHED an acoustic guitar while Led Zeppelin's third album is FULL of acoustic guitar. They are NOT the same animal and they take two different techniques and skill

[@A14b19]

Mate you should do a proper fully documentary this is good

[@surfrby8876]

This interesting stuff, he had a pretty impressive resumé way before Led Zep, as someone mentioned his chops and production skills helped built Zeppelin into the band he always wanted

[@rick6582CNCMedicalParts]

A super group & Great live shows will never forget them at the garden..

[@leelauder4411]

Saved his money and formed Zeppelin!! Rest is history!! Peace brother

[@daniellay3598]

This is a great piece of work. Jimmy's sessiom years were always something i've been super interested im amd there's a lot of great informatiom and footage here

[@Kedbuka]

Right on, great clip. Thanks so much for posting it. So cool to see Jimmy at this early stage of his incredible career.

[@adamwatson6916]

The accuracy of those solos was incredible as were his yardbirds solos . The looseness of his zeppelin solos were more s stylistic choice and not becusse he was a sloppy player as many like to claim. He only got sloppy much latter on when substance abuse messed him up .

[@willbick7889]

i wouldn't say the zeppelin solos were 'loose' on record. He reserved the 'looseness' for on stage when off his head...

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

I don't know, all of these solo examples sounded pretty sloppy and like when he would play fast leads with Zeppelin live.

[@jscordoba3]

Speed was never his strong suit. His speed and accuracy in his session days compared to American session players at the same time isn't even close. But he was melodically a genius, where more skilled american players at the time I'd say were less creative. Jimmy Bryant played circles around Page in the 50s, but who besides guitar nerds (me) remembers one Jimmy Bryant song.

[@triuneself2497]

Wow that was awesome! I'm a huge Jimmy Page fan and have never seen some of that footage and some of those pics...I love the way you put it all together, great video, like REALLY great lol, nice work!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@Cincinnatus1869]

I don't know if he ever said so but I think Jimmy listened to a lot of Lonnie Mack instrumental songs like Chicken Pickin , Wham and On the Move which came out in 63 -64. Especially in those first 2 solos. Very similar style and sound. Page really became a versatile guitar player by 1975 . He could play so many different styles and make commercially viable songs in different styles. Nobody can move me with a solo like Page. No Quarter, Ten years Gone, Tangerine, Tea for One etc. He's a freaking genius

[@hughcameron]

I heard a lot of Lonnie Mack in these solos too - style and tone👍

[@craigcampbell6690]

That was Fabulous 💚...Thanx for sharing 😎

[@andrewjohnson388]

Liked that....rare footage. some tracks I did not know Jimmy Page played on, awesome even then. The Yardbirds later combined the three legendry Page, Clapton ,Beck were great.. Must of been a great time to be a teenager then in UK.

[@garymorgan3314]

Probably better in the 70s when I grew up. I'm the 1960s fine if you were in groovy London but only for a fraction of its 8million inhabitants. Bowie and Roxy in the early 70s the Punk in 76 on was far more exciting for far more people. And Zepeas a 70s not a 60s band really.

[@andrewjohnson388]

I was born in 1965, and a musician, Zepp, Jimmy Page had influences from 1920's blues to Jazz, Celtic folk. They really did not follow a scene, more underground which like, I listen same stuff, old Jazz and blues, music has no time, Scenes are a pop burst to what the majority follow. I love 70's music because of its rock bands but 60's seemed cool and great music and performers, and actors.

[@thegreenman7]

Fantastic! Excellent video!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@bugeanuflorin1531]

Fabulous. Thanks, good time for you

[@shellcircus1437]

thank you so much for putting this together!!!! wonderful stuff 🔥

[@1suoiraciv954]

Jimmy has always been and still is my Rock God Hero, Best rock guitarist ever!!!

[@marciashiraishi5891]

Wow! Loved it! It's interesting to see Jimmy so young, with short hair and neatly combed...I'm used to seeing him with long curly hair, a little messy, in the Zeppelin era, or now with gray hair. Watching this great video I remembered an excerpt from the book “Light & Shade...“ very funny when he says “they wanted me to see the birds in the light threads...“ (read and play according to the score)

[@bharat5194]

If there's only one person worthy of being called a true session man alongside Jimmy, it's pianist Nicky Hopkins.

[@markgrant1302]

Jimmy Page wasn't a great session player. He was good at doing solos on rock songs, but he couldn't read a note. He'd never cut it with " The Wrecking crew who were the best in the 60s. Not with guys like Larry carlton in the 70s or Steve Lukather in the 80s....those guys were expected to see a chord chart or a lyric sheet or less and create number 1 hits in one afternoon out of thin air, no way Page could pull that off.

[@jscordoba3]

@@markgrant1302 exactly. I love Page but most people can't grasp how much better the American session players were of the same era. Page's genius is in his writing and melodic ideas.

[@kevhead1525]

Rick Wakeman

[@michaelh1889]

Brilliant post !! Thank you !!

[@zachsmith3376]

I really like these historic videos and this presentation is remarkably well done.

[@darkhorse651]

Master of the craft. Thank you for posting love it

[@grzegorzwojcik153]

Fantastic work, amazing informative video. Thank you so so much

[@KristinaKreamer]

I think my favorite session record that he did,was the unusual pairing of him with Brenda Lee in "Is it True?"in 1964.Pretty snappy tune!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Killer song.

[@MrBlackcaster]

DAMN this video is simply FANTASTIC

[@thingmaker67]

This is great. In my currently hazy situation I am reminded of that Monty Python sketch where John Cleese plays a boxer with a completely ridiculous workout routine. "At 2:30, Jimmy crouches down on the roadside and rubs gravel in his hair. He then runs 5000 miles to Bermuda..." Anyhow, I've been reading the Spitz book. It's amazing to me how Jimmy lived a lifetime of experience prior to forming Led Zep. What a time that must have been. sigh.

[@howamilooking5952]

Loved finding your page. Great works!!!

[@musoseven8218]

Awesome insights, thank you👍😊

[@joekurtz8303]

Have an album of early session work with Sonny Boy Williamson featuring Jimmy Page. Dad brought it home one day, mostly blues , nothing like his studio work in LZ. Still have it.

[@jerryweber1768]

This is Excellent. Someone should make comp CD's of these songs.

[@guitar1067]

Interesting post. Never would have guessed from these solos, that Jimmy was destined for greatness. Saw him with Zep at the Laurel Pop Fest July 1969.

[@familydogg1234]

Lol JPJ's Beat Instrumental article came out prior to Page's(Aug). Note most of this article was reproduced for a compilation CD of Page's work. Nice video and thanx!

[@bristolfashion4421]

Thanks - very interesting for us James Page fan-boys :-)

[@mercster]

Hey this was great, hadn't heard a lot of this early session work. Thanks.

[@tonysimmons5729]

Awesome! MORE PLEASE! 👍

[@tylerthompson1842]

I know ever guitar player listening to that first solo can picture him in the first position pentatonic into the second and so on. I liked the nod to "Heart Breaker" in the intro background music. Good on ya mate.

[@robertdillon6821]

Great video as usual 😊 I'm sure he did hundreds of sessions for long forgotten songs and some of those solos were just amazing! Mickey Most particularly. I think he did sessions with the Stones as well

[@jimmypage7275]

Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 🥰 and I hope you never stop being a fan, I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.🤍

[@jayannakelley9051]

@@jimmypage7275 - Do you really think people will fall for your unofficial ‘ account’? lol..

[@iuricastro4690]

This was absolutely great!!!

[@thekitowl]

Excellent stuff, keep it up.

[@weeooh1]

Awesome pre-fame solos of Page! In fact I like them better than most of his Zeppelin stuff. Cant believe the ridiculously low no. of subscribers to this channel! Quality stuff here!

[@markfrost2707]

are you high?? these solos were rudimentary crap compared to what he did in Zeppelin???

[@ralphemerson497]

Interesting as heck. Always wondered Jimmy’s music background. Great video.

[@edwardmulholland7912]

He was always great - still is

[@jimmypage7275]

Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 🥰 and I hope you never stop being a fan, I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.🤍

[@edwardmulholland7912]

@@jimmypage7275 I appreciate that Jimmy, I just wish that there was a compilation of your session work in ‘60’s that I could buy as you did some great work in those days. All the best to you.

[@jimmypage7275]

@@edwardmulholland7912 that’s beautiful, ok here is my email address at jimmypage

[@spyderlogan4992]

Page got so good so fast. Plus his incredible work ethic, producers wanted and needed him because of it: On time and in tune. Great Channel: Subscribed.

[@paulfedor9828]

rhank you for posting this

[@talesfromthetrip]

Very informational, thank you!

[@mikeschmidt8256]

Yes. Hooray for this.

[@messi8921]

That was brilliant! So interesting

[@angelos6817]

Just discovered this channel! Wow!

[@christinecollins6648]

I try hard to be dispassionate and objective when I listen to famous people who you think yo know- but do you really. I actually think Page’s early random cuts stand out with some of his future signatures in inception- well before their time. Bravos

[@madometal]

Wow page was a professional notorious session player used by many ,he was ripe and ready by the time Zeppelin was thought of

[@garymorgan3314]

Rather important to note a certain Yardbirds in between!

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

My favorite Jimmy session is on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man”- heavy and psychedelic AF

[@dharmawoodmexico]

it's an urban legend that the guitar solo in the hit Black is Black by spanish groups Los Bravos is by Jimmy Page because the recording was made in London and by labor rules they had to use english musicians

[@williamblair9597]

Jimmy Light'nin Page was the real deal, a prodigy.

[@jimmypage7275]

Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 🥰 and I hope you never stop being a fan, I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.🤍

[@hugomejia593]

Of course yes my favorite of all great comment

[@dancingtrout6719]

His moniker was magic fingers Page:::.....

[@Dwightpower88]

This is great!

[@Wygruce]

Another brilliant video, really high quality stuff.

[@jimmypage7275]

Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 🥰 and I hope you never stop being a fan, I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.🤍

[@Wygruce]

@@jimmypage7275 yes, I'll pop over for a drink some time.

[@rogbrown1458]

Have many obscure 60 s singles on which Jimmy played. 1965 solo single also. She just satisfies.

[@rogbrown1458]

Thanks. Rog. Pacific sunset records

[@bradentonguy50]

Your collection contains “obscure singles” because those were the only recordings Jimmy ever played on.

[@rogbrown1458]

@@bradentonguy50 I have hundreds more obscure singles both us and UK that other now well known people first played on. Rog. Pacific sunset records.

[@idontwanttousemynameyoutub7538]

Jimmy Page ripping some Lonnie Mack on those early records....very interesting. He was clearly a big fan, as was Bootsy Collins(!) of all people!

[@Cincinnatus1869]

I've always assumed that his session work was a big reason Page was so versatile with styles. Zeppelin made good songs throughout the 70s while changing their sound completely from one album to the next. The other bands of the era either were not able or were unwilling to change up completely after having success with a certain sound. Page played what he wanted to hear without regard to trends

[@jayannakelley9051]

I’ve always thought the same Spin. Whatever your mood..there’s a Zep album for that! Always will be my top band 🌟

[@mikeschmidt8256]

Those solos are all great

[@davidcrosswell1980]

I believe Jimmy played on Jet Harris and Tony Meehan’s number one hit “Diamonds”, also Jackie de Shannon’s “Don’t Turn Your Back On Me” and “I Remember The Boy” which I bought after seeing Jackie on British TV

[@davidcrosswell1980]

Thank You YP, another track by Jackie de Shannon has fantastic guitar work by Jimmy is “Dream Boy”, just checked it out on one of Jackie’s CD’s, She is a fantastic singer and songwriter, I bought a lot of her records when I was a teenager then later bought her CD’s, love her recording/composition of “When You walk In The Room” , prefer it to The Searchers hit single.

[@libertarianclips6370]

Page and DeShannon actually dated during this period for a year.

[@PsychedelicGuy]

Great video. His solo during Al Stewart's Life and Life Only is one of his best session works in my opinion .

[@ARIZJOE]

Back when Jimmy was in love with Jackie DeShannon. "Season of the Witch," one year later.

[@stefano-tq8ns]

Jimmy's style in every note

[@derekstocker6661]

Thanks for this short bio of Jimmy, I seem to remember him on a talent show many years ago with Jimmy talking to the guy who ran the show and I believe Jimmy was about eleven years of age possibly. Well done, love this small video about one of the world's greatest guitarist's.

[@garymorgan3314]

It was presented by Huw Weldon and Jimmy was talking about birds I think, maybe skiffle. When asked what he'd like to do he said be a research scientist I THINK it may have been on Monitor but definitely Page was with HW.

[@derekstocker6661]

@@garymorgan3314 Well remembered, that's the name, I know I had seen it on the internet as well somewhere, thanks for that.

[@garymorgan3314]

@@derekstocker6661 Pleasure. Young Page a grammar school type whereas his old mucker Jeff Beck was more secondary modern! Beck's sister went to school with Jim and they met since both loved guitar.

[@joshuadowling8778]

Wow. That is informative. Never saw picks of Jimmy between skiffle and Led Zeppelin. Fucking great. I knew that he was a studio guy for a bit like JPJ, I didn't realize that he had his name on those 45's. That is crazy. Fuckin genius.

[@michaelh1889]

Best y.t. thing I've seen in years... 👍🇺🇸

[@victorjohnson7512]

John Paul Jones was also Lulu's music arranger.

[@TheRKae]

I liked seeing the connections here. Lulu also did a duet with Donovan around the time of "Hurdy Gurdy Man," ("What a Beautiful Creature You Are") produced by Mickie Most. And Jimmy says he played the solo on "Hurdy..." but Donovan says, no, Jimmy only played for the rehearsals. The connections are fun. I just saw an interview with Carl Palmer, and while talking of joining Asia, he mentioned that he was already familiar with Geoff Downes. The interviewer found that interesting; Carl laughed and said, "England is a VERY small place."

[@antarcticorb9197]

It continually astounds me as to where you find this film footage! You need to produce longer documentaries, as I'm sure you'll find a large market for this fascinating material.

[@ethanadjack5289]

I love that the first song of the the soundtrack has a Heartbreaker riff in it.

[@jamescpotter]

Thanks for mentioning drummer Bobby Graham as he and Jimmy did SCADS of sessions together. They complemented each other.

[@travism1974]

Wasn't Bobby Graham the drummer on early Kinks songs...You Really Got Me and others?

[@jamescpotter]

@@travism1974 Yes, and hundreds (probably thousands) of other sessions!

[@heliotropezzz333]

There's a series of videos on youtube with Bobby Graham being interviewed about these early session days and his work with Jimmy Page. They are very interesting.

[@thekitowl]

@@travism1974 shell Talmy says he was the drummer on the early kinks stuff although Clem Cattini also makes that claim.

[@elvisleslie61]

the early video of jimmy was filmed by bobby graham who did indeed play on YRGM and a few other kinks songs

[@markbrown7103]

Yes Jimmy page fantastic guitarist he was really great when he was with the Yardbirds but Eric Clapton was a long for the ride on that one and so was Jeff back but some of the war solo work he did was Led Zeppelin was on believable he’s one of my favorite hard rock guitarist led zeppelin was one of my favorite hard rock bands they played hard rock with a whole Lotta class yes blue skills were on believable although he’s getting along and years now I imagine he still a great guitarist and always will be I am just glad he still with us 👍👍👍🎸🎸☮️😎😎😎😀😃😀😁😂

[@RSTI191]

You know this kid ain't half bad. He should start a band or sumthin'.. You never know, might be big one day..

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

Nice work

[@Cheekymongoose351]

The Devil sold his soul to Jimmy Page 🔥 🎸 🔥

[@joanneolive7128]

Too true.

[@mjh5437]

If this vid covered all the pre-Zep records he played on it could be 5 hours long not just 5 minutes and I would love to see it,he`s a fascinating man...A true one-off.

[@blazingstar9638]

This is awesome

[@luisdonoso7907]

Sorprendente..

[@luiszuluaga6575]

I always found Jimmy Page to be way hipper than Eric Clapton in terms of lead guitarist who were heavily influenced by the blues.

[@The_Timinator]

All three of them Fueled Rock and Rock. Jeff could play Solo and be awesome, Eric can write some awesome Songs and his playing is equally as good, Jimmy, could Produce and arrange and come up with the "Hooks" that drove Zep. I would vote for Jimmy as best of the three...just because his Acoustic playing was so awesome...who's my favorite? Robin Trower

[@AtomMotherHeart]

Clapton was more rooted in blues, r&b while Page had more of a rockabilly, rock and roll sound. Both were insane!!!

[@garymorgan3314]

You listened to 'Bluesbreakers'? 'Key to love' and especially 'Have you heard?' are astonishingly intense, beautifully timed solos. The whole thing is brilliant.