Customer Reviews

Couldn't Be Hotter

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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!

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

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!

OK, so the sound isn't prime studio quality... it was LIVE! If you stuff this CD onto your chiclet-sized MP3 player you may have to adjust the volume, but it's LIVE! As usual the vocal blend is as good as it gets and the instrumental backup is superb. I've followed the group since they were a warm-up act for Tom Jones and this is one of the best collection of songs and arrangements yet. Of course I'm wierd: I play the Christmas album all year long.

Manhattan Transfer turns up the heat full force in a blazing style of Louis Armstrong feel good jazz. The showstopper is "Nothing Could Be Hotter Than That" - a fun, rollicking track starring Janis Siegel's gorgeous lead vocals backed by the MT's amazingly tight support band. These guys mean business and sound the best in the business. Clearly everyone on this live set is having a great time. Could Telarc please release a DVD of one of these great concerts?

... except that this is essentially a concert version of that earlier album, and not as good. Except for Swing, The Very Best Of, and The Manhattan Transfer Anthology, I usually end up liking only two or three songs per each album of theirs. On this one and Spirit of St. Louis, the best tune by far is Sing Moten's Swing, which has the kind of bounce and verve I expect from Manhattan Transfer. But I have to admit up front, I'm a lot less enamored of their takes on doo wop and not at all on pop tunes; this could be because I'm a dyed-in-the-wool jazz and blues fan, or because I'm a swing/Lindy Hop deejay -- take your pick. But they do have a lovely, dreamy take of Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, which now after Katrina has taken on an additional poignancy. Stompin' At Mahogany Hall is good but not as great as I'd hoped, whereas Stars Fell On Alabama is nicely rendered. But the St. Louis album is still better, even on those tunes. I just don't see a reason for this album. Go figure.

This ain't good. MH are AWESOME...they are awesome LIVE and in the studio...this CD sounds like some amateurs who are pretty good at imitating them. With their level of perfection and synch I am surprised their producer, their label, and they themselves allowed this to be released. Plus it sounds muffled and lacking an ambient live sound. Their previous live CD is stand out!

I loved this cd because I have Manhattan Transfer live from the 80's and it was time for an update. This cd doesn't do the group justice on how they REALLY sound live BUT I still think this a 5 star worth. I have seen them 3 times and I am looking forward to seeing them again. If you like this type of music I would recommend New York Voices. How about a DVD on Manhattan Transfer??????????????

I've been a fan of MT for some 30 years, both collectively, and a fan of Janis' solo work. I've enjoyed most of their forays into jazz over the years, but I really didn't connect as well with the "Swing" and "St Louis" albums. I found the arrangements too "busy" and just occasionally noise for noise sake. This live album reinforces my feelings concerning their recent musical directions. I found it basically unpleasant to listen to because of poor sound, and the arrangements, with a couple of exceptions. Overall, a disappointing effort technically, and this is one listener they have left behind over the past five years.

There's nothing "wrong" with what they are singing these days...I just find a lot of it too showy, and un-musical. just an opinion from a former fan who will await Janis' next solo work, and maybe something new from Keely Smith.

I mean, "Gone Fishin?" What a five minute exercise in boredom!

I have been an enthusiastic fan of TMT since the 70s, but this is too bad! The sound is awful and does in no way make justice to the original recordings. Buy the albums Swing and Spirit of St. Louis instead, they are great!