Product Details

• Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 20, 2001
• Run Time: 83 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305211973
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,307 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Keiko Matsui may have won a few Smooth Jazz Awards, but the Japanese- born, classically influenced keyboardist's music is not jazz--at least not if your definition of jazz includes swinging, the blues, and improvisation, all of which are in relatively short supply in this nearly 90-minute performance (plus DVD bonus features, including an interview with the artist). Not that it matters, really. Whatever you call the style--"contemporary instrumental" seems as good a term as any--Matsui is one of its more appealing, and certainly most popular, exponents. A capable if not virtuosic player, she and her four-piece band (including a Japanese guitarist who seems to have listened to a lot more Jimi Hendrix than Jim Hall) offer up a generous set of 14 songs, all of them Matsui compositions. As titles like "Beyond the Light," "Night Waltz" and "Bridge over the Stars" would indicate, the sound is melodic, accessible, and, well, smooth; this is the kind of music that smooth-jazz radio was created for. And while that makes for few challenging moments, Matsui does provide enough variety--say, the minor-key, rhythmic drive of "Doll," or the shifting dynamics of "Foot Steps" (the two "jazziest" numbers here)--to keep things interesting. Best of all, she brings out Kazu Matsui, her husband and record producer, to play the shakuhachi (the Japanese wooden flute) on the final three numbers. Kazu's distinctively breathy sound and casual, humorous mien provide a welcome change of pace in a show that is otherwise a bit too safe for its own good. --Sam Graham

Product Description

JAZZ CHANNEL PRESENTS KEIKO MATSUI - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Viewed live in person., February 20, 2001

By 

LabDaddy (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Keiko Matsui (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

The BET production facility was quite good -- an amply sized staged, good lighting, excellent camera work, and an intimate crowd of between fifty and one hundred.

Keiko opened with the title track of her most recent studio release, "Whisper From The Mirror". She then travelled back in time, covering favorites from many of her studio releases, including the ever popular "Safari" and "Bridge Over the Stars".

The special treats of this performance are the only live recording of "Foot Steps" -- a wonderfully extended version of this song -- as well as a shakuhachi version of "Light Above The Trees". The finale -- her "Blues Jam", which has never been recorded in any format, is always a favorite and brings the house down at her concerts -- if you've never seen it before, you're in for show!

All in all, a wonderful and classy performance by Keiko...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent jazz show by a talented, gracious performer, June 10, 2004

By 

J. Lizzi (Costa Mesa, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Keiko Matsui (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

Keiko Matsui brings to the stage of BET Jazz a solid performance of some of her more well-known songs (as of 2000), complemented by a good supporting band and the virtuoso bamboo flute playing of her husband, Kazu. Typical of most of Keiko's music, many of the numbers introduce a musical motif, move on to an improvisational middle section, then end with a more glorious layering of instrumentation. Any follower of smooth jazz will recognize her formula, and it plays well for this show.

I would describe most of the numbers as uplifting; however, some diversity is added with the heartfelt "Forever, Forever," written for Keiko's daughter, the ethereal compositions featuring Kazu's flute ("shakuhachi" in Japanese), and the jazzed up tempo to some of the hits. "Bridge Over the Stars" was noteworthy with it's altered (from the original studio version) tempo and much cooler ending. "White Gate" was really up-tempo with bass and drums alternating flourishes. Keiko works well with the other band members and trades off some hip riffs with sax-man Greg Reilly on a song or two. Personally, I'm not convinced that the shakuhachi works all that well as a jazz instrument, but I can't criticize the inventiveness in employing a traditional Japanese flute along with contemporary jazz instrumentation. Jazz aside, the last song is a BLUES number, trading off between featured soloists, including Kazu ("Wanna check it out?") with his breathy flute intro.

Overall, the camera work, editing and the sound quality are all very good. No major negatives with this disc, although the run time of 84 minutes left me wanting a bit more, and the DVD extras aren't that captivating (11-minute interview with Keiko and a 30-second TV spot). Still, this is a performance that any jazz fan can enjoy.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This DVD is of 5 star in every aspects., March 2, 2004

By 

HIFI enthusiast "ast" (S.F. Bay Area, CA. USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Keiko Matsui (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

Sonically, the DTS is very very clean and well mixed. No over done surround that make lots of music videos sound artificial. Therefore I can't hear much of difference between DTS and 2 channel ( this is by no means a bad thing though ). All the tracks are well chosen and are of her best. Here is a list of her albums that I own and in the order from my most favorite:

1. Dream Walk
2. Deep Blue
3. Full Moon and a Shrine
4. Doll
5. White Owl
6. Whisper in the Mirror
7. Under the Northern Lights

Video is very clean as well. Well match the mood of the music. Classy and simple. I appreciate the good taste of the production. This is a jazz video so don't need all the fancy high tech visual effects IMHO.

Keiko herself is awesome! Her whole persona is like magic. I am Chinese so I probably appreciate more of her subtle, low key and subdued style. She is just LOVELY! If you are Keiko fan then this DVD is a must have for you.