A Night at Red Rocks, taped in Colorado's gorgeous natural amphitheater in 1992, is an ambitious undertaking for these still-stomping rock dinosaurs: the classic Moody Blues lineup playing with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and no safety net. The band rises to the occasion, giving fans a solid if sentimental survey of its long and prosperous career. The performances and the material vary in quality, but the group comes through where it counts. Hits like "The Voice," "The Story in Your Eyes," and "Nights in White Satin" sound great, as does "Question," the Moodys' greatest contribution to rock music.
The Symphony plays well, but the group misses some prime opportunities to use it, adhering to synth parts where an orchestra would have worked nicely (most notably in the rocking "Gemini Dream"). There's no surround mix here, but band leaders Justin Haywood and John Lodge deserve kudos for their able sound mixing. --Michael Mikesell