Customer Reviews

J.J. Cale - In Session at the Paradise Studios

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This DVD is a must for any true JJ Cale fan. It contains almost 90 minutes of songs and even a personal look at JJ's modified Harmony guitar, complete with coins to set the distance between the strings and the neck.

He jams in classic laidback style and Leon Russell adds some tasty organ and even vocals on a couple tracks.

As good as any JJ I've heard, and I have them all. He's really in top form for this set and seeing him play with a great band adds to the full effect. The video is well edited and the camera work on a whole is pretty good.

Covers most of his classics up to the date it was recorded (1979) and even a couple not on any other CD.

This is it! Finally-they got it right.An actual session of J.J. Cale on "DVD"!I am one of the true fans who has listened to him for a long time.Enjoyed him for a long time.Other than getting lucky enough to be at one of his rare shows some 13 years ago,I ,as well as many,had never seen him.Finally we can on an excellent production from classicpictures.uk.co.It features not only the "guitar man",but shot many scenes where you actually can watch him play.Man he can play!Examples of his talents are featured extremely well on "Ten Easy Lessons","After Midnight",Boiling Pot","Crazy Mama","Going Down" and all the "T-Bone Shuffles".However,the one tune that sticks out is the rendition of "Fate of a Fool" from the album "5".I could be wrong but I felt this tune was written as a parallel of his life."Seeing" him perform this all but proves my assumption correct.The band that accompanies him is tight.Leon Russell is super and makes his presence known on keyboards/vocals and showmanship.Do not look for fireballs,smoke machines,or long drum solos.This is J.J. Cale and he just plays.Man can he play!

This is my first review in 3 years!!(lazy). This DVD is incredible. It is not a stadium Live concert but it is neither a soft studio session. It is pretty much similar to nowadays MTV unplugged, but with all Cale's strenght, an excellent sound and very good quality filming. I can asure you that any JJ's fan will not be dissapointed.

Recently retrieved, but captured in 1979, in the intimacy of the Paradise Studio, with Leon Russel, Christine Lakeland and others, this performance is obviously a must have. Pretty good sound and a lot of great songs, sometimes in jazz style sometimes more country. A pure delight for the aficionados of jj cale. And a brilliant example of the US culture that we love in France!
Surprisingly, I notice that this dvd is now available here and not yet in USA ! Be patient !

A must for any fan of JJ Cale. Although this session is almost 30 years old, there is no mistaking the laid back style of the man. It is not hard to see where other talented guitarists such as Clapton and Mark Knopfler drew their inspiration from.

The sound may not be as good as some of today's DTS tracks, but the session itself is as cool as it gets.

Well worth the money.

As long time fans know, the song titled Katy Kool Lady on the JJ Cale 5 CD is not the same song as the original vinyl LP, but is a song correctly titled Out Of Style. Katy Kool Lady in the audio bonus tracks on the DVD is the same song as the LP and includes Katy Kool Lady in the lyrics.

If you're a JJ fan, you want this DVD. If you're not familiar with JJ, you are probably familiar with songs he wrote that were covered by Clapton and others. The originals are better. If you hesitate to spring for the DVD as your first JJ purchase, try either the Troubadour or Naturally CD first, and see why other musicians respect him so much. You'll feel confident about buying the DVD afterwards.

J.J. Cale in a studio setting playing live. Whether it be known album cuts or just one chord jams JJ plays and sings with his usual low key style, all of which is what made him a legend. My only fault,is the mix, jj's vocals are soft enough as it is but on many songs his vocals are mixed clearly to low to give the songs the effect needed. That said ,its a upclose look at a reluctant star who we all want to know just a little bit better.

First let me state that I am a fan of both JJ Cale and Leon Russell. That being said, there is little to like about this video.

The sound quality is decent, but the video portion, while clear, is pathetic. Constant fade ins and outs from one shot to another are certain to give the viewer a headache after about 5 minutes. The camera is seldom on JJ, and while he is playing some great guitar solos the viewer is treated to a shot of Leon Russell sitting there looking stupid. Christine Lakewood looks like she took a couple of Quaaludes, and occupies far too much camera time.

As if all that were not enough, JJ Cales hair looks like a Chia Pet, and one of the keyboard players is wearing shorts and roller skates.

My advice is to turn off the picture of this DVD, and simply listen to the music.

GREAT DVD with great songs and good 5.1 mix. If you like good and taste music, buy this dvd immediately!!!

Anyone who is a J.J. Cale fan will enjoy this fine DVD. But potential buyers should be aware that it is a Region 2 DVD, making it unplayable on most American DVD players. I was able to play it on my computer because the version of Windows Media Player I have allows a limited number of Region changes. That said, the music is excellent. Leon Russell appears as a member of the band and occasional MC, but really doesn't add much. He seems intent on treating Mr. Cale as a kid brother when he's not casting baleful, too-hip-for-the-room stares into the camera.
This performance contains several selections that Mr. Cale has performed live but never released, so it's a must have for those of us who are hard-core J. J. fanatics.