Couldn't Be Hotter [Live]

The Manhattan Transfer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B0000C9JCV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,558 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Jazz > Vocal Jazz > Vocalese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE REAL FAB FOUR STRIKE GOLD AGAIN!, September 29, 2003

By 

Steve [e-mail] (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couldn't Be Hotter (Audio CD)

Ok, I guess I'm a little biased. As a long time TMT fan (yeah, the one who knows all the words to their music), I have been looking forward to their live recordings and of course they don't disappoint. I have to say I wasn't a real fan of Louis Armstrong - but listening to these four interpet his music is a different experience all together. One thing that's seems to be overlooked in most reviews of live sessions are the musicians, and let me tell you that TMT ALWAYS has the best backing them. Kudos to Yaron Gershovsky and Wayne Johnson, both long time sidemen for the Transfer. Yaron is the eighty eight man who can make a piano do things you'd think it couldn't and Wayne is from the Les Paul school of guitar - both of them incredible. This recording is crisp and cool. Many TMT fans will recognize selections from their "Spirit of St. Louis" CD, their version of "Nothing Could Be Hotter Than That," swings like nothing I've heard before. Janis Siegel's and Cheryl Bentyne's musicianship shines brightly and their vocals are hotter than ever. These four have been together for a grand total of 31 years and let me tell you they just get better with time. Their on stage chemistry should be the standard by which all others are measured. If you haven't heard this group before you won't be disappoined and if you're a fan like me, you'll be glad they do what they do. Here's to another 31 years!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, April 29, 2004

By 

Pegleg (North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Couldn't Be Hotter (Audio CD)

I just got this yesterday, and have listened to the album twice and a couple of cuts (#s 11,12) more than that. I'd rate this album 10 stars if I could.

The title track, "Nothing could be hotter than that" is the best single jazz song I have ever heard. Better than Bechet. MT joined with a band that is every bit their equal, and the refreshing, 'new' sound is a joy to hear.

Pegleg

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Best Thing..., January 17, 2004

By 

Gavin Lennard (Sydney NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couldn't Be Hotter (Audio CD)

Like Glenn below, I also took in the Transfer's concert in Sydney last October. In a word, sensational! Last time I saw them live was in Sydney in 1983, and frankly I'd forgotten just how good they are live. You just won't ever go to a better concert. Wish I'd invited more of my musically narrow friends along. Technically brilliant, but they just put on such a good show even my inveterate U2-fan girlfriend thought it was "fantastic".

To the album then, which I bought straight afterwards. Pretty much a condensed version of the show - they just left out all the stuff from previous live albums. As a keepsake from the show it is brilliant - takes you right back to the State Theatre. Agree with Glenn, the standout track is "Nothing Could Be Hotter Than That", but the whole set is terrific, showcasing the tight-knit vocal artistry of the group, plus that "everyone is having a ball" feeling. Janis is the star of the show and her rendition of "Stars Fell On Alabama" is spine tingling (wish that one was in the Sydney show!). And don't forget that band - brilliant, tight, punchy.

I thought about taking a star-off though, because I do agree with a couple of the other reviewers that the sound quality really is a bit ordinary - quite muddy in places and lacking depth of image - definitely not an album to use to show off your new million dollar hi-fi system, sadly. Particularly disappointing from Telarc from whom I've come to expect state-of-the-art recordings - what went wrong guys?

The studio albums, Swing and Spirit of St Louis are arguably better technical recordings, but they sound like studio recordings and lack that edge and energy that only comes through in live sets. There is no substitute for being there, so if you missed the concert this is definitely the next best thing, all things considered.

And, at the end of the day it's been the most-played album for me for a long time and I'm still not tired of it, three months and a hundred plays later! How can I not give it five stars! And guys, come back soon!