Customer Reviews

Diana Krall - Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have to disagree with one of the previous reviewers regarding the sound on this recording. I found the sound to be superior to the "Live in Paris" DVD which has a consistent echo throughout the performance. I'm sure this was just an acoustic anomaly from the concert hall, but it's still distracting when listened to on head phones. This new DVD however has excellent sound.

The only complaint I have about it is the frantic camerawork throughout the concert. There are so many camera angles fading in and out that it gets tiring to watch. I just wished that the camera would sit still for at least 10 seconds. I get the feeling that it was directed by someone who has only directed 30 second commercials.

Of course, the music is terrific and includes all the new tunes that weren't on the Paris DVD. I also prefer the quartet sound to the full orchestra from the other disc.

Diana Krall live at the very very famous Montreal Jazz Festival, still with the almighty Anthony Wilson on guitar, but this time on bass is Robert Hurst, and Peter Erskine on drum, two of the most renowned players in jazz scene. Seeing Diana Krall and Co. play is like attending a great jazz music workshop, they show very strong understanding of different kind of jazz music, and improvise them,

the opening track "Sometimes I Just Freak Out" combine standard swing to more uptempo "bebop"-ish groove, the transition is so smooth. "Devil May Care" show how Erskine and Hurst manage the super fast bop groove with ease. the bluesy "Love Me Like A Man", and sentimental "Departure Bay" made the finale of the show. And with Elvis Costello co-writing tunes, i found that the melodies become more smooth and easy-listening, but that became a interesting blend with Krall master piano works, and great solos are all over the place, like Hurst and Erskine blaze over "East of the Sun" and "Devil May Care", the improvisation of Wilson and Krall on "Stop this World" is just jaw-dropping as well.

GET THIS!! If you are interested in jazz music and jazz vocal and solo stuff you'll like this one, this DVD highlights one of the most impotant moments of the Montreal Jazz Fest 2004, as well as Krall's music journey, though this might not be typically "Krall"-ish style of music for the sake of the co-writer Costello, but it doesn't affect the quality of music thru out, check it out!!!

Rather than complain about a lack of DVD extras, or about sound options, let's concentrate on the music here. This is a live concert DVD, and it should be judged on the quality of the music, not on peripherals.

If you've had the chance to see Diana live (which I've been able to do three times now), you'll love this DVD. It much better captures the live concert that you typically see with her, as opposed to "Live in Paris." What I've always loved about seeing her live is listening to her strech out on piano, and seeing her guitarist do the same. I've seen Anthony Wilson (the guitarist seen on this DVD) with her the last two times I saw her in concert, and he always comes dangerously close to stealing the show. He's an absolutely great improvisor, and it's great to see him play.

If you like Diana on stage more than in the studio, definitely get this DVD. Even is you like Diana in the studio more, still get it, because she shines as always.

I was at Diana's concert yesterday in Vejle, Denmark and brought home the new Montreal DVD. A great 5-star live concert in Vejle - but the DVD is very disappointing. Granted.. after "Live in Paris" my expectations were high.. probably too high. But this DVD release really leaves a lot to be desired.

The video boasts "stunning 14-camera shoot".. and it's alright.. but are we supposed to believe that the greatness of a video shoot is equal to the number of cameras in use? The editing seems random at times, but you do get a nice view of Diana's piano playing for all us piano players out there.

The audio options are 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby surround. Why no DTS? The audio sounds thin and cold, there's no warmth or depth to the sound of any of the instruments... again (unfairly maybe) compared to "Live in Paris".

The concert is also not complete (not that "Live in Paris" was), but the highlight of this particular concert (June 29, 2004) is supposed to have been a closing duet with Diana and Ron Sexsmith performing "Secret Heart". This was promised to be on the DVD - it is not.

Also promised to be on this release was a 15-minute documentary on the Montreal Jazz festival and its 25th anniversary - not on the DVD.

The promised Oscar Peterson Awards ceremony (recipient Diana Krall) was also promised to be on this DVD - it is not.

The extras you do get are:

- the video for "Narrow Daylight"

and in case you do not have internet access (well.. how could you be reading this then?) - you can spend a good 1 or 2 minutes exploring:

- a Diana Krall "discography" and
- a photo gallery

On a positive note.. the next Diana Krall DVD-release is guaranteed to exceed this one .. unless they decide to sell it on adding one and using FIFTEEN cameras!

I know I'm in a minority, but though I'm a big fan of Krall, Wilson and Erskine , I found this release disappointing and inferior to the sublime Paris concert. Not because of the material--which is ok- but because of the production and performance. The former is spoilt by silly camera hyperactivity and a less than great sound quality.Regarding the performance, Krall seems to go for technique too often rather than content--and her vocals are sometimes tired sounding with intonation lapses.Wilson has his moments,but I prefer the sound of the older instrument he used in Paris.Hurst has plenty of chops but seems bored for some of the time and frankly the Hurst/Erskine axis doesn't swing as much as the Clayton/Hamilton pairing. (Compare their respective versions of All or Nothing and East of the Sun) Notwithstanding the above, I'll still eagerly await DKs next project...

As most Diana Krall fans are aware, her last several studio CDs have branched out musically from her 1990s-vintage albums (where she concentrated on classic pop standards). In my opinion these shifts in focus have been aesthetically successful, but I realize from reading the amazon reviews that some fans have been left uncomfortable by her moves first into orchestrated bossa jazz (THE LOOK OF LOVE), then most recently into often self-penned contemporary material (THE GIRL IN THE OTHER ROOM).

Those who've supported Diana's changes probably don't need a review to know that this DVD is a must-have, as is her last concert video LIVE IN PARIS. The sound quality is excellent (including 5.1 surround option), camera angles very good, and her performance is consistently strong, with more mature vocals and more adventurous piano solos. On MONTREAL she is accompianed by bass, guitar, and drums throughout (unlike the Paris concert, which has some orchestrated tunes). Also, I greatly admire that she stays in the present tense (so to speak), focusing on recent tunes: 9 of the 12 songs on this DVD are fom her newest album. While I thought highly of the studio versions, in a live setting the new material sounds even fresher, with fluid, emotive performances by Diana and her band.

Those who were disappointed with THE GIRL... album just might want to check out this video for a different view of the new material. That studio album for better or worse seemed like a significant move away from her established classic jazz sound (a shift which I thought highly of but you may not agree). Yet on this DVD her performances of those same tunes seem to have found considerable common ground with Diana's jazz-based music that brought her fame back in the late-1990s, and fit like a glove next to the three standards that are mixed in with the new songs here. The flow from Diana's past to her present in my opinion is much more seamless than you might expect based on the studio versions. Not all the skeptics will be back in Diana's corner, but I believe quite a few will be (just as some critics of THE LOOK OF LOVE wound up embracing the subsequent LIVE IN PARIS video).

I have to admit that I was dragging my feet when it came to purchasing this DVD. I am a huge fan of Diana Krall but not of Elvis Costello and I was quite apprehensive of his influence on her music. Not to worry this is a great concert. It would be nature to compare this to her Live Paris DVD. The Paris DVD was done with a full orchestra. This adds a much more full and lush sound. This concert was just her normal combo, giving it a more real jazz sound. I liked it! I noticed that others complained of the filming being to jerky and moving from one seen to another to often. I found it no different than most concerts I have seen filmed. If you like Diana Krall you will like the DVD.

Being a musician myself I am critical of the recording quality of what I listen to. I must say that Live in Montreal is one of the nicest live recordings I have heard in some time. Diana's piano work is exceptional and the performance rendered by Anthony Wilson on guitar is show stealing. If you have a high end sound system or a high end appreciation for well played and recorded music this DVD is a must have for your collection.

I had no reservations about buying this DVD since I had seen her live about three years ago and had seen some of this concert on TV recently.I enjoy her records alot,but they don't begin to tell the whole story and for anyone who has never seen her live,the first thing that they will notice is that this is much more than a pretty face who makes nice records and happens to sell alot of them.This is a woman who comes to play and what a treat it is to see her and this great band stretch out on these tunes.I read some of the reviews here and noticed a couple of negative comments about this rythym section in comparison to the last one.This is nonsense.The previous bass-drum tandem of John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton is, indeed as good as it gets,but so are Robert Hurst and Peter Erskine.Its really a matter of apples and oranges and they,along with guitarist Anthony Wilson and of course, the leader,can and indeed do swing you into ill health.Wilson brings chops,taste and intensity to everything he plays and its apparent that Diana is having a ball with it all.I find her forays into Tom Waits,Joni Mitchell,as well as the tunes she co-wrote with her husband to be to be a welcome change in direction and it seems totally natural.And,as with all great music,it gets better with each listening-I really noticed that with the original tunes.Check out the effortless transition from Temptation to East Of The Sun(including a killer piano solo) to the burning up tempo Devil May Care and then right into the Joni Mitchell tune and you realize that this truly is a unique talent.In addition to being the perfect accompianist for herself,as a piano player she makes you realize,by now that while you might want to believe that its her bandmates that are pushing her to this level,that it might just be the other way around.Highlights are too many to mention.The opening instrumental sets the pace and the closing Love Me Like A Man brings down the house.The sound is great and the camera work is first rate,although,I would agree that its a little busy sometimes-but this in no way can detract from the music.There should be more stars available for this one.Highly recommended.

Regarding to the musical contents, I will just say that it is a fusion of Jazz with modern pop/country songs. It is a matter of taste, but I prefer "Live in Paris".

Diana appeared somewhat tired. Se rushes on "West of the Sun" and only catches fire in "Devil may care". God knows why...

The bass section in notably inferior to the duo Hamilton/Clayton in "Live in Paris", but these gentlemen as she calls them have other engagements...Anthony Wilson is very good on the guitar, and of course Dina Krall is very good on piano, but her left hand is weak. Almost all notes are played in the middle of the keyboard. Thus the lady maintains composure and does not need to move on the seat, affording correct placement of the microphone when she sings.

This is a recording of a Jazz Trio in a large arena hall. These venues are, in general, not good to record acoustic instruments (to reach the audience they need to be amplified).
Therefore close miking is a necessary "bad practice".

Regarding the DVD there is a significant error in the package. The sound is Dolby 5.0, not 5.1, meaning there is no subwoofer. I personally like that, because I have 4 large speakers and can hear bass from all of them. But a large number of people have 5 small speakers and a subwoofer. When they play this DVD they will simply hear no bass.
If Universal put 5.1 in the label on purpose I think some customers have legitimate right to claim their money back...

Another important point is the fact that only Dolby Digital is available for both surround and stereo. Dolby Digital at the lowest compression rate (highest bit rate) is still not good for music, period.
This is a strange decision for a company called "VERVE" which recorded the greatest Jazz groups in the 60's and 70's with great fidelity. Listen to "Night Train" by the Oscar Peterson Trio on CD and you will hear the difference...
Why this decision to allocate the majority of the DVD to the video and a small portion to the sound in a music record is beyond belief. They could at least put the stereo track in PCM.

Compared to Warner's Paul Simon "You are the One" at the Paris Olympia that has DTS surround and PCM in addition to Dolby 5.1 and subtitles of the lyrics for the non-English native language customers this DVD should be priced at half of the normal...