A lesser-known sequel to hard rock icons Deep Purple's 1969 album CONCERTO FOR GROUP AND ORCHESTRA, "Gemini Suite"--a live recording from 1970--presents a more thorough interlacing of rock and classical elements, of an electric rock band and orchestra, the latter conducted by Malcolm Arnold. This version of Deep Purple features vocalist Ian Gillian and GEMINI SUITE LIVE:1970 (released 2003)includes liner notes by Simon Robinson.
U.K. issue.
A fascinating curio. Unreleased for nearly three decades, this is a live document of the best-known Deep Purple lineup playing a rock-classical fusion piece, with orchestra, that would turn up later as a studio album with slightly different personnel billed as a Jon Lord solo piece. The concept: Individual movements based on the musical personalities of the band members, which means that everybody gets lots of solo space, even singer Ian Gillian.
Lord's influences are all over the place--a little Copland, a little Ives, a little Bartok, and a lot of movie music. One hears the definite influence of Bernard Herrman and Ennio Moricone, and there are weird moments that seem to anticipate some of the soundtrack stuff Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen did on the LETHAL WEAPON series. Unsurprisingly, it's not altogether cohesive, but it has its moments--guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, in particular, shines in his solo segment.