Customer Reviews

Center Stage

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was fortunate enough to hear Tommy Emmanuel live in concert in May of this year (2008). From the opening notes to the last encore, he was one of the most brilliant musicians I have ever heard.

His technical skill is amazing, but he's about more than flash. He plays with a wide range of deep human emotion, and does it all with great wit.

This recording captures the essence of that experience. It's a live concert recording that finds him at his best, showing off his skills, and connecting and communicating with the audience. It may sound like hyperbole, but this recording has rocketed onto my list of my favorite recordings of all time.

If you haven't heard Tommy, this recording is the place to start!

This work is quite simply a masterpiece from a great master. Truly the greatest person to come from wonderful Australia, Tommy is THE best disciple of the late Chet Atkins, and I can see Chet now sitting in heaven with his MP3 player listening to this and smiling and tapping his feet along with his friend Tommy.
Sit on your evening porch just before sunset with a glass of ice tea, put on your headphones and listen to a man who makes a small room a cathedral of wondrous sound. His fingers are golden, his sound is perfect, his music is breathtaking. He makes an acoustic guitar sound like an orchestra. And if you ever get to see Tommy in a live performance, your life will be forever changed for the better.

Another great outing for, in my opinion, the greatest guitarist on the planet. Chocked full of Tommy's inimitable personality and two discs full of his mind blowing picking and caressing his guitar to purr and growl like no other entertainer I've seen or heard. I've been fortunate enough to see him perform live in a small and intimate venue and this disc brings to mind that vivid experience. If you've never heard him, buy it, if you have, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

I was introduced to the music of Tommy Emmanuel while lying in a hospital bed and feeling depressed as I flipped through various channels on the television. The flipping came to a halt when I heard for the first time the music of Tommy Emmanuel. He was playing, as I later found out, Mombasa. I had caught the televised taped concert performance of "Center Stage" in progress. The gusto Emmanuel puts into his performance was invigorating. I was hooked; I had to have this music for my own.

I want to share the fantastic music Tommy creates so I have shown this DVD to everyone who comes to visit me. Tommy Emmanuel captures what it really means to play the acoustic guitar with expression to the fullest. It is astonishing that he is able to play such a different amount of musical sounds with a guitar. Usually on a concert DVD or CD there are one or two pieces I do not care for, the exception is "Center Stage," every piece was incredible.

The quality of the sound and the picture are excellent on the DVD. This is one DVD that I find myself returning to watch and never tire of it. I bought both the DVD and CD. While it is much more entertaining to watch and listen to the DVD, the CD allows me to take this extraordinary music to listen to while in my car. I highly recommend this DVD to everyone. I would like to give ten stars to this review, but alas the highest the review will accept is five.

Great collection of the best music you can get in a live acoustic guitar performance. Tommy Emmanuel is an amazing guitar virtuoso and his skills are easily appreciated in this double cd set! His style incorporates elements of country, folk, pop, rock, and traditional music, but it takes these blends to a level that transcends what you would expect in any of them. An excellect cd set!!!

If you are a fan of Tommy Emmanuel, then you will want to own this CD.

This is a fabulous set, and a great recording for those already familiar with Tommy's work. However for those not so familiar I'd recommend buying "Live One" first. A few of Tommy's most brilliant tunes are missing here, most notably "Those Who Wait" which is one of the most hauntingly beautiful melodies I've ever heard. I would say it's a must have.

Either way you won't be disappointed- listen to the samples and you'll see what you're in for. Note that "Live One" is purely acoustic guitar with no harmonica. I personally prefer just a guitar (Tommy doesn't have a problem filling the soundscape with just one guitar), but if you like the harmonica by all means get "Center Stage".

I ordered this cd-which is WONDERFUL-on a Sunday morning & rcvd it the following Wednesday. Couldnt beliece it. Thanks so much. Gv

Honestly, I'm blown away!

The only thing better than the CD is the DVD. What you will see is one man make the music of a band on one guitar
and use EVERY LAST INCH OF THE INSTRUMENT TO DO IT.

Incredible human being and one hell of a musician... Original piece of music or a cover of a well known selection
of music, either way, he brings his own special style of magic to it and you will absolutely LOVE IT!

I've seen him in concert. Incredible Awesomeness is all I can call what I've seen! Of his work, this live experience
is my favorite because it takes me back to the live experience. Just wish he'd sing a bit more often!

Go Tommy Go! I dare you NOT to enjoy the hell out of this one! REPEATEDLY!

I was late catching on to this guy, saw him on public t v. great technician, neat choice of covers. more percussive, staight ahead playing than someone like Monte Montgomery, who can turn your head around. good stuff though.