Ben Harper is an artist whose music has crossed over many borders, from jamband fans to mainstream. His unique blend of rock, rhythm and blues, reggae and funk is highly appealing to music lovers everywhere, and his album sales reflect that.

Now Harper has released a fantastic live set titled “Live From the Montreal International Jazz Festival” with his band the Relentless 7. The set includes a CD and a DVD of the show, with the DVD featuring two extra songs not on the CD. Harper is a strong live performer, and this set punctuates that in spades.

Rocking through favorites like “Faster Slower Disappear Come Around,” “Number With No Name,” “Lay There And Hate Me,” and “Shimmer and Shine,” the arrangements are fresh, the improvisations exciting, and the performances powerful.

An amazing performance of the Hendrix classic “Red House” ramps up the energy a little further, and a cover of the Queen/David Bowie hit “Under Pressure” practically blows up the CD player. An extended jam on “Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)” underscores the instrumental prowess of Harper and the Relentless 7, an aspect of the band that is overlooked by many.

The set concludes with a trio of songs following the Queen cover that pushes the energy envelope to extremes, closing with a strong “Serve Your Soul” that acts as a metaphoric exclamation point to the set. The DVD is fun to watch, with the tunes “Skin Thin” and “Fly One Time” restored to the middle of the set.

Ben Harper’s followers will not be denied this album, and this very strong live recording has the power to convert listeners to fans.

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