Customer Reviews

David Clayton-Thomas: You're the One - Live at Le Festival International De Jazz De Montreal

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Four and a Half BIG Stars!!! David Clayton-Thomas, arguably the greatest Blood, Sweat, & Tears lead vocalist, revisits those great Grammy-winning days of jazz, rock, blues, and ballad hits produced by one of rock's greatest instrumentally-charged groups, and he adds in hits from his own solo singing career. None of the other BS&T stars are here at this live performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2006, but DC-T is riding a tight, pumped-up band of brass, reeds, woodwinds, and percussion, with a dash of electronics. David's inimitable dramatic voice is MAGNIFICENT, as is his control of nuance and dynamics: the clock has not ticked for this great voice. Classics like "Spinning Wheel" , "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Go Down Gamblin' ", and "God Bless the Child" are wonderful recollections of the BS&T days. And DC-T's own "You're The One" is breath-taking beauty. But the rousing performance that steals the show, even from the wonderful gospel choir at the end, is composer Steve Winwood's wild and weird "Forty Thousand Headmen": great vocals, soaring orchestral playing, and great Bruce Cassidy electronic solos with a slick arrangement riffing off the original BS&T recording. Only a badly-miked tenor sax solo kept this one from perfection, but those things happen on live shows. Thomas takes the original arrangements, adds different vocal nuances, and plugs in super-charged instrumental solos: exactly what most of us will want. And he delivers, BIG TIME: Highly Recommended to all and ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for Blood, Sweat, and Tears fans. Four and a Half HUGE Stars!! (DVD, color, NTSC-all regions, 120 minutes with David Clayton-Thomas interview)

As the previous reviewer stated, this is a GREAT performance by DCT and the band. With the exception (previously mentioned) of the tenor sax player getting away from his mike, the sound was fantastic. But, I've got to let you know that along with a good engineer, they had excellent camera operators and editors. The shots are close and very clear! All the shots were also well integrated into the film and performance. Everything flowed as smoothly as the music.

But, unmentioned so far is the "bonus" interview with David Clayton-Thomas. In it he talks about his musical background before BS&T. Then he discusses the creation of BS&T and how he came to be the lead singer as Al Kooper left the group. This is probably not new info for a BS&T fan, but it is great to hear it directly from him. Then he goes on to talk about his exit from BS&T and his recent career. All was told in a very personal way. I loved the concert video, but I would have bought this for the interview alone (if I had even known it was on the disk).

As a slight oddity, when you choose the menu choice labeled discography it only has two listings. "Aurora" and "DCT in Concert a Musical Biography". Obviously he has done more than two Albums in his career. These are both put out by Justin-Time records, but he did another record "Blue Plate Special" for them several years ago that wasn't listed. Doesn't detract from the concert or interview, but it is a little strange.

Yes, I've been a BS&T fan since I first saw them in concert in 1969 (38 years ago!). I'd quickly recommend this to anyone else that is a fan of DCT or BS&T. It was a very enjoyable view and listen.

DAVID CLAYTON THOMAS have always the same voice... from the BS & T time. Great performance, great voice, very good sound and camera shots.Two hours of wonderfull music ! Magic moments with the Montreal Jubilation Choir. You can buy this DVD "les yeux fermés" (closed eyes : because no problème >> it's GREAT !) Thanks Mr DCT

I enjoyed this concert very much. My only criticism is that he has so many more songs that one concert just doesn't cover his body of work. I always loved his music when he fronted Blood Sweat & Tears and was happy he sang many of those songs. Well worth the price of the DVD.

Even though I know much of the music and everything about this DVD, I have to take it out and play it in the car (no, I only hear it and not watching the DVD while driving) when I got it from the mail; and into my DVD player after I got home. It is wonderful to see him sing and he sounds as great as ever. And the interview on the disk is full of personal and insightful material. His new CD (The evergreens) is also wonderful with many new songs. I am glad that he returned to Toronto after the BS&T days.

Great video and audio quality. Thomas is great at singing the songs he sang before with Blood, Sweat and Tears. Overall great DVD.

Like many other folks, I fell in love with Blood, Sweat, and Tears back in the 70s. The songs were complex and interesting, the instrumentation was incredible, and that voice! David Clayton Thomas was the voice of the 70s. What an amazing singer he was!
But does he still got it?
Yep! He's still got it folks, and he's still the one! I was thrilled to find this DVD, and I was even more thrilled to watch it. I think I watched it through at least four times the first week.
If you liked the old Blood, Sweat, and Tears, you must have this DVD! I'd rank it among my top concerts of all time.

Sidenote: One of the musicians plays a most amazing instrument on 40,000 Headmen (my favorite song on the disc). It seems to be a horn synthesizer, and it is amazing - the range of sound that comes from this device. I was a little frustrated though, because there is no information about it that is given - and I want one! Wow!

Never seen this person as the frontman from Blood, Sweat & Tears, but what a great and enthousiastic performer he is by now! I have watched this DVD from the beginning to the end without the intensions to stop it. Great registration and fantastic sound. Should B, S & T ever have sound like this?

If you liked Blood Sweat and Tears, you've hear his voice. David Clayton Thomas is older in this video, but he is an entertainer. It has become a favorite video of mine. The seller is very good too!

Thomas had a fantastic voice when he first started singing with BSandT at the age of 27. At the time of this DVD he was 65 and yes the voice has aged considerably. Even so he turns in an energetic, personable performance along with an excellent band of players. For a good presentation of a younger voiced Thomas, four songs on the 20 Years After Woodstock Reunion DVD from 89 captures Thomas in still youthful, if not prime, voice. Surprisingly BS and T were the second highest paid performers at Woodstock.