The Jeff Healey Bluesband - Live Blues Festival Norway 2006-08-05

On August 5, 2006 Jeff Healey and his band took the stage at the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway for a straight-ahead live set that puts playing above presentation. The film records Healey at his most immediate, seated with his Fender Stratocaster across his lap, producing unusual bends and legato runs that shape the evening. Backed by Al Webster on drums, Alec Fraser on bass, Dan Noordermeer and Dave Murphy adding keyboards and rhythm, the performance emphasizes interplay, improvisation, and crowd response. The result is a document of a working blues band showing technique, taste, and occasional loose, joyful moments.

Released in 2006, this is a concert recording of the Notodden show rather than a scripted film, presented as a straightforward capture of a festival set with minimal production frills.

It did not earn major industry awards or high-profile nominations, and it mainly circulated among fans, collectors, and specialty music outlets rather than competing in mainstream award seasons.

Jeff Healey’s lap-guitar approach is front and center, and this recording helps preserve that visual and sonic signature for newer listeners. Guitarists often point to performances like this when studying his approach to phrasing and touch, and for many fans the concert stands as a clear snapshot of his onstage identity and influence within blues-rock circles.

Critical appraisal for this release tends to focus on musicianship over spectacle. Listeners who enjoy live blues will find the set useful for hearing how Healey shapes solos within a band context, while casual viewers may be struck by the raw, unvarnished feel of a festival performance. The film works best as a companion piece for fans, a study tool for players curious about lap-style technique, and a record of a single night when the band simply played the blues.