Intersections: Hornsby Box Set Highilghts the Diverse 20-Year Career of Bruce Hornsby
The four CDs are not broken down chronologically but by theme. The first CD is called “Top 90 Time” and features Bruce’s chart topping songs which include a pair of chart topper originally performed by other artists. Bruce does a workmanlike job of singing “The End of the Innocence” which Hornsby co-wrote with Don Henley. The live version of “Jacob’s Ladder” which Bruce wrote for friend Huey Lewis, works very well and surpasses the original release. A live version of “The Way It Is” sounds very different from the studio version but resonates true. A beautiful version of “Fields of Gray,” which Bruce wrote for his twin sons when they were about a year old, segues seamlessly into “That’s Where It’s At.”
The second CD features solo pieces on piano and songs Hornsby did on tribute records, country-bluegrass records and for film soundtracks. Two versions of “The Valley Road” are included on this CD, one featuring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and another live version that sounds completely different than the original recording but still stands strongly on its own. Hornsby’s cover of “Jack Straw” from the Grateful Dead tribute album, “Deadicated” and “Shadowland” from the Spike Lee film “Bamboozled” stand out as well as “Barcelona Mona,” a jazzy instrumental piece featuring Branford Marsalis.
The third and fourth CDs are called “By Request” and feature fan favorites and songs Hornsby himself chose as his best work. Hornsby shows his diversity throughout the set. “Fortunate Son” moves right into a lovely cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” which the enclosed booklet indicates helped inspire the song. The jazzy, “Talk of the Town” sounds very different live and creates a completely different feel, but still works extremely well. “Rainbow’s Cadillac” features Bonnie Raitt and bounces along with playfulness and reverence. A live version of “Spider Fingers” gives Hornsby’s piano playing talent a chance to shine. “A Night on the Town” sounds the least like its studio version and the results are mixed. The long piano introduction works well but the song lingers a bit too long and fails to capture the urgency felt on the studio version. Songs from Hornsby’s underrated CD, “Big Swing Face” like “The Good Life” are also included to the compilation’s credit.
The DVD features the diversity of styles Hornsby has featured over his 20-year career. It starts with Bruce’s early music videos from MTV’s heyday and then features some less well known songs and collaborations the Williamsburg, Virginia native has played on over the years. Guests include Jerry Garcia, Branford Marsalis, Robbie Robertson, Pat Metheny, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters and Chaka Khan. The original version of “The Way It Is” is here, along with “The Valley Road” and “Across the River,” all early hits for Hornsby. A highlight is a strong cover of “The Mighty Quinn” with blues legend B.B. King and Lou Reed and a lesser known early video “Defenders of the Flag” which features Bruce and the Range.
The overall package succeeds because it shows the many facets and influences of the artist. Hornsby’s style defies easy categorization. He was clearly inspired by jazz, country, blues, rock and folk and is just as at home playing with the Grateful Dead as he is with Branford Marsalis or B.B. King. “Intersections” includes a strong cross section of Bruce’s work as well as rare and previously unreleased versions of Hornsby favorites. By the end of “Intersections,” the listener feels as if he is returning from one of Hornsby’s outstanding live shows. That is a truly satisfying musical experience.
