Customer Reviews

Bruce Hornsby & Friends

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

 

 

Sound quality's good. Supporting artists are great. Set list and "musical exploration" are just OK. Given the time constraints of this PBS special, I suppose Bruce and the boys needed to keep solos and tangents to a minimum, which is what I like most about Bruce's shows. A good disc for a Bruce fan, but I'm waiting for one in High Def, 5.1, broader set list, and instances of musical exploration.

I'm a big fan of Bruce Hornsby and I enjoyed this performance which is all too brief. The guest stars are welcome. Glad to see Pat Metheny and Don Henley among them. The pieces are all well performed and in many cases differently than in the recorded versions.

My problem is one that afflicts too many concerts, that cutting away to a quote during a performance. It ruins the continuity of the piece for me. Given the technology available this intrusion should be an optional estra feature, like the directors narration during a movie.

I bought this DVD because I have been a fan of Don Henley's for quite sometime now, when I found out that he was a guest in this concert, I had to get it, his performance of "The End of the Innocence" was really good and it was nice to see both Henley and Bruce Hornsby (who co-wrote the song with Henley) to actually perform this song live together on stage. Overall, the entire concert (which is just under an hour) was a great little performance, my only problem with this concert was just that, it was a little too short. Both the sound and visuals are very pleasing on this DVD and you will be entertained by Bruce Hornsby and Friends, with additional guest performances from Bonnie Raitt, Bob Weir, Pat Metheny and Gregory Hines.

Hornsby's great, no doubt; but this shabby packaging of one of his PBS shows is irritating. The only real work that has been done has the been the 5.1 audio mix--the rest is just lifted from the broadcast; with interviews conducted over the solos and instrumental sections to mask sloppy edits to fit more songs into the one hour program. Undoubtedly, the unedited concert exists in one form or another. I would have sacrificed the surround sound mix for an unedited 'Mandolin Rain', or hear the soprano sax solo unmarred in 'End of the Innocence'. Almost a waste of time and money. Almost.

This DVD featured some very talented people playing along side Bruce. That talent includes Don Henley on "End of the Innoncence", Bonnie Raitt on "Rainbows Cadillac, Bob Weir playing guitar and lead vocals on his own Grateful Dead hit "Jack Straw", Gregory Hines (actually tap dancing on Long Tall Cool One),and Pat Matheny playing guitar on "White-Wheeled Limousine." Overall, the concert was excellent, the only problem was that only part of the concert is actually on the DVD, they should have released the entire concert.

As an atendee of this amazing evening I can tell you first hand how incredible it was... The small ballroom at Manhattan Center NYC sounded pristine! I remember seeing this as a PBS bradcast a few years back... it was really well done. Now that its cleaned up in 5.1 and digital video it should be even better. I only wish they included some bonus material... as I remember it was only a few weeks after Jerry Garcia had passed, Bruce introduced Bob Weir and said they may just play two "Jack Straws"... and they did, back to back. Also,I distinctly remeber Don Henly being quite rude to the union workers demanding that they adjust his mike stand in the middle of a song and then stop the band to restart the song. Bruce played MANY requests incuding some Bob Marley! We'll never see this stuff on DVD but what they have here is EXCELLENT.

In this clear video you will see Bruce with some famous guests in concert taped October 27, 1995, at Manhattan Center, New York City. Don Henley, Gregory Hines, Pat Metheny, Bonnie Raitt, and Bob Weir appear on this video. I got this video back in July, 2008, but never gave a review until today.

Bruce is always at the top of his skill always doing best at what he does best; however, I prefer Bruce on his own with his selected group--whichever one it may be at the time. I don't fully appreciate famous guest stars because it detracts me from seeing the Star of the Show--Bruce. However, some folks might really enjoy seeing his famous friends perform and perform very well they did. These talented guests indeed contributed to the variety aspect and talent of the show.

Bruce explains how he likes to keep his songs fresh with his live audience by improvising--thus giving the audience something personal, real, and present each time he goes in concert rather than the same thing every time. Indeed even Beethoven was a great improviser. I really enjoyed listening to this particular rendition of Valley Road, and I REALLY ENJOYED watching Bruce play the piano at good angles several times throughout the show--I want to see Bruce play the piano at good angles and this video gives you these few occasions.

What are you looking for when you buy a video about Bruce? I like to see several things, one of them is watching Bruce play the piano, and I want to see him at really good angles besides listening to good renditions of some of his songs.

I think this is a very good video. If you don't have any videos of Bruce yet, this could be a good first video, but don't let Three Nights on the Town pass you by as it is a MUST BUY--you will see a fabulous 50 year old Bruce and hear really superb music. Another video must have is the one included in Intersections where you will see him perform the original version of The Way It Is and the original version of Valley Road (I fell over backwards when I saw Bruce for the very first time in this video). Don't forget to include The Rockpalast video which is really good to watch him perform at his best, but the video quality is bad and the lighting on stage is horrible most of the time--you see Bruce with different hair colors as the colors on stage change. HOWEVER, it is a really great performance, and he does it all on his own with his band!!!

As always, I think "The Way It Is" should be left just the way it is as it was ORIGINALLY done to perfection. It has reached full enlightenment, therefore, any improvising on this song is a sacrilege. I am not a purist with other songs, however, and I DO VERY MUCH enjoy his improvising. Some songs he improvised have turned into super masterpieces which you can hear in Intersections--White Wheeled Limousine/Long Black Veil (listen to it from 6.5 minutes until the end--TO DIE FOR!), Candy Mountain Run, Sneaking Up On Boo Radley, and Resting Place not to mention Song H which was not improvised but is an exquisite melody with orchestra. I listen to these songs each weekend. The video Three Nights on the Town include Resting Place (for sure), White Wheeled Limo and Candy Mountain Run as I hear them that are included in Intersections.

Bruce Hornsby is almost unknown in Eastern Europe. That's why was a big and pleasant surprise when I purchased this item, specialy for Pat Metheny's participation. Concentrated and focused show, intense moments. Highly recomended.Pat Metheny - Secret Story [Region 2]

This is a must watch DVD in my book. This is Bruce at his best, live. I have watched this DVD at least 3 or 4 times since I bought it. I can never sick of watching it. The songs are wonderful and so is his playing. So buy this CD and have hours of enjoyment. Thanks.

This is an excellent concert. Clean video and an outstanding DD-5.1 soundfield. Bonnie Raitt and Don Henley help fill out the show. Bruce Hornsby is a multitalented musician/singer-songwriter who provides a genuine product on this DVD. You will like this....