Customer Reviews

All By Hisself: Live at the Lonestar (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It pains me to write this because I love this guy, but if you own 'Dr. John plays Mac Rebennack' I believe you're going to ask yourself why would anyone believe I would want to listen to this master play solo blues piano on anything other the best acoustic piano they could find for him at the time.

Compared to the other CD mentioned, this one makes one think of DJ putting on a concert in the KMart keyboard section. Thank god the DVD includes DJ on an true acoustic.

This is a marvelous live recording of Dr. John from the legendary Lone Star from 1986 to kick off series of live performance discs from him. This is just Dr. John and his piano, singing and playing a number songs associated with him and/or New Orleans. Performances including vocals are wonderful and some of the material is not standrad stuff. Included is a bonus DVD with him answering questions and demonstrating aspects of the New Orleans tradition. Only reason not giving this a fifth star is that perhjaps that should be reserved not simply for superb recordings, but ones that stand out as definitive for an idiom or a performer. I am not sure whether this is such a disc.

Dr. John's solo album at the Lonestar is an example of a piano player standing out there alone on his talent. In this age of studio electronic enhancements this is very refreshing! This is a great way to hear his abilities as a performer. He makes the most of an otherwise terrible piano. After a few minutes the piano quality (or lack of) won't bother you because the level of his abilites shines through anyway. The song selection is OUTSTANDING!!! The performance is more "spirited" than his studio album "Dr. John plays Mac Rebennack".

The great Mac Rebennack, aka, Dr. John goes it alone, all by hisself on this one, and the results are pure as the sweet smell of New Orleans' magnolias. If you're a Dr. John fan, this is an absolute must have. All his hits are here, as well as a host of Big Easy standards. But not only that, there's an excellent bonus DVD on which the good Doctor recounts New Orleans music history.

A must for any Dr. John fan as he shows off his talents unaccompanied. Great music and he sure can play that keyboard. Which brings us to the strange part of this recording - what exactly is he playing on? It's obviously not an acoustic, and not even a very good electric/digital or whatever. At times the bass line sounds like it's being played on another instrument altogether - don't ask me what. It was very disconcerting until I decided to just ignore it and listen to the music. But really, what were they thinking?

I've been a long time fan of the music of New Orleans and with particular interest on the piano styles coming from the Crescent City. Whether Prof. Longhair,Fats Domino or any of the others.I'd actually gone to purchase the new Mac album when I saw this on the same shelf.CD/DVD set by one of the absolute masters of the genre, who by the way recently played at a Festival close to where I live in Oxfordshire,for interest Buddy Guy was there as well.
Anyway to this set, I personally love it,so great to hear the great man solo just his wonderful keyboard and that voice ringing everytime the very soul of New Orleans.This set gives us twelve tracks although track 12 is a medley of five songs including Rockin' Pneumonia etc. The albums almost an hour long, and I love it recorded in December 1986 in New York over two nights though it does come over as one performance.I can't speak for other reviews here only how I see or enjoy it,and I certainly do.It's rare for anything less than worthy to come from Mac and this is a quality sound performance that is in every sense excellent throughout.If this is as it says the first volume of the DR.John Cronicles the others to come are very well worth looking forward too.Man this guy plays the keys like no one else and this is living proof of that.Can I just mention the DVD, we get thirty minutes of Mac playing and talking about New Orleans piano from the styles of Longhair,Ray Charles,Fats Domino and lots more,it adds upto a totally enjoyable half hour and leaves you wanting more but a smashing additional disc anyway.
So I really recommend this release and if you like the great man and his music you'll love it,in fact anyone who likes boogie piano will.PS 'Tribal' his new release is absolutely top class,sixteen tracks of pure Mac genius.

Wasnt aware of this CD - saw it on the J.Booker page...havent rated it either as I havent listened to it yet, (it wont even let me pick no stars -doh! amazon) but regarding others comments - from the samples provided (very handy) it sounds like he is playing on an older electric piano, not acoustic, and agree it sounds badly balanced/recorded..I like to hear what he is playing for transcription purposes. Some of the older Booker recordings are bad but the playing is on an acoustic and comes across clear.
And for posterity let them be issued - warts and all.

to conclude - I will get it; Im a fan and I play.