Jethro Tull’s lead singer Ian Anderson will be idolized for decades to come as the one who popularized the flute in rock music. As part of his solo ‘Rubbing Elbows’ tour, Ian performed at the Berkley Auditorium in Boston on the 8th of November. The concert will surely stand out be a treasured memory for my seven-year-old daughter, Kanika and me.

The band, Jethro Tull is named after an English agronomist, agriculturist, writer, and inventor whose ideas helped form the basis of modern British agriculture. While critics have tried in vain to classify the band Tull’s music (Rock, Jazz Rock or Alternative) they all agree that its members are among the greatest musicians of all time. In 1989, Tull’s album ‘Crest of a Knave’ won a Grammy award for the best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal. While Ian likes to jam with Tull, he also mentioned that his band mates, especially Martin Barre had a tendency to get ****ing loud. This tour was to showcase the ‘soft underbelly’ of Ian Anderson.

Ian began the proceedings in a dramatic fashion. As the lights grew dim, Ian appeared on stage playing on his metal flute. He then stepped closer to the microphone, producing a bamboo flute from his vest pocket and played to the cheers of delighted fans.

He then performed a few Tull classics like ‘Living in the past’ and proceeded to play songs from the Jethro Tull Christmas album, released earlier this year. With his rich trademark voice and melodious flute I watched Ian hold the audience spellbound for the entire evening.

Most songs in the concert were from a solo album Ian released this year ‘Rupi’s Dance’. This album is one of his best works ever. Almost all cuts in this album have a striking Indian touch.

The album features ‘Calliandra Shade’, an ode to Cappuccino hangouts in Italy and ‘a Week of Moments’, about a fantasy vacation. The title track ‘Rupi’s Dance’ is a song about Rupi, his cat, a name inspired by the Hindi word for beautiful. This is not surprising, for Ian is a connoisseur of Indian delicacies. His page on the ‘Jethro Tull’ website features an article on picking a good Indian restaurant.

Other classics in the show were his flute solo and ‘Griminelli's Lament’ an instrumental classic. Another featured song, ‘My old black cat’ is a philosophical tribute to his late pet.

The event featured several interactive sessions where members of the audience could ask questions to Ian, about himself, Tull or his music. Some lucky ones were invited onstage and ‘rub elbows’ with Ian. I was very impressed with the intelligence of the audience and the quality of questions asked.

A fan asked Ian how he decided if a song he w rote was for his solo album or for Jethro Tull. Ian replied. ‘I decide based on how much the song allows a band member to show off his talent.” If it did not have scope for other specialist musicians in the band, Ian would use the song in his solo album.

When asked who the driving force was in his life, booming came his reply. ‘My wife’. Ian then proceeded to tell us that he never had a driver’s license and relied on her to drive him around. Ian is a motorbike guy.

Mixing humility and humor, Ian poked fun on several other celebrities like Letterman, John Lennon and even the President. (“You must go on more vacations. Even the Texan has got himself a passport, these days.”)

The event also featured rising star Chris Fitz who enthralled the audience with vocals and brilliant guitaring. Ian accompanied him on the Flute.

The grand finale of the evening was an encore performance of ‘Locomotive Breath’. Members of the audience joined in with the Kazoo to this Tull masterpiece. Ian’s music can impress any generation. His album ‘Rupi’s dance’ comes with wholehearted recommendations from both Kanika and me. Buy this one now!

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