Customer Reviews

Joni Mitchell - Shadows and Light

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Shadows and Light was already one of my favorite albums the day I walked into a stereo store and saw the laserdisk version playing on a big screen TV. I was in awe for the next hour or so, being a huge Weather Report, Pat Metheny and Joni Mitchell fan. I agree--release this on DVD! It's quite a thrill see Jaco here at his best--his madman solo, his deep groove and his majestic tone. Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays' unique sound creates a rich harmonic blend with Joni's songs which is nothing short of beautiful. This lineup perfectly complements the Mingus compositions and is a great follow-up to that album. And Joni's vocals and phrasing are at their peak. Complaints? I'd rather see the musicians than video clips of James Dean and Joni in a big bird suit. Also the camera work leaves a bit to be desired, with achingly slow pans and a few bad angles. Finally, why can't they give us the whole concert? The first U.S. version of the CD is missing 3 songs that were on the double LP. The video is only 60 minutes long, and doesn't have all the songs from the double LP. The new U.S. double CD has the 3 songs restored, but we never hear the Jaco solo on CD or album. I heard news (on a Jaco web site) of a Japanese re-release in 1999 (VHS-75 min.) which adds Hejira at the conclusion of Amelia/Pat's Solo, and another song...this piecemeal stuff is maddening. But these are minor points. However you get to see or hear it, this is a bright moment in time with the best group of players I've ever seen together. A must for anyone who likes any or all of these musicians. Again--RELEASE THIS ON DVD!

Someone at Warner Home Video needs to pull their head out and get this amazing concert film back on the shelves! This is Joni at her best with the greatest backing group of musicians in history! Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Don Alias provide an amazing platform for Joni's songs to spring from. And it's all set in the beautiful Santa Barbara County Bowl, one the great outdoor ampitheaters in the world. Plus Joni has added some interesting visuals, not to mention snipets of James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" to liven up this wonderful piece. So why can't you or I buy it? Warner's has kept it out of print and is really dropping the ball on this one. Send them a nasty e-mail and tell them to reissue it now in DVD and VHS!

Yes, it's Joni at the peak of her powers, backed by musicians who would become legends, if they weren't already. And if you close your eyes you can lose yourself in it.

Open your eyes, and chances are even you won't see what you expect. Pastorius, Brecker, and Alias play an incredible blues jam, but the video is a bunch of poorly-shot b-roll of the Vegas Strip. "Hejira" is a music video with ice skaters. A stunning performance of "Amelia" is obscured with archival footage of the flyer, which itself obscures the meaning and metaphor of the lyric.

Yes, it's a product of its era, when concert-video producers seemed to think that watching the musicians play would somehow bore the audience, but that doesn't help now. There were moments when I wanted to throw a brick through the TV screen, I was so frustrated by hearing incredible playing that I wasn't allowed to see because somebody thought some old movie clip would be more interesting.

5 stars for the music. 1 star for the video.

With and allstar cast including, Jaco Pastorious, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mayes,and Don Alias, and Joni's vocals, this is her music taken to a new and different level.
The precision and tightness with which this ensemble of brilliant jazz musicians integrates with Joni's music and vocals is incredible. One only needs to listen to "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" on this DVD to apppreciate the musical skill assembled here as well as the musical evolution of Joni Mitchell.
Buy it, watch it, listen to it, and be totally amazed by the way these incredible musicians wrap themselves around the music and lyrics of the most talented and musically diverse Joni Mitchell. This music is played as tightly and skillfully as anything you will ever hear, and enjoy the Jaco Solo.

This DVD is wonderful; a real "must have". Metheny, Pastorius, and company are terrific with Joni; however, the DVD (a short single disc) should have at least provided us with some bonus footage or interviews of participants from this legendary tour. There must be some great additional film buried in a vault somewhere. What a shame.

At a certain point, Mitchell realized that jazz musicians could liberate her music from its past in ways she couldn't do herself or with her usual back up colleagues. This grouping of jazzmen was inspired. Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny set the gold standard for her performances, a standard she's be hard pressed to match thereafter.
This is a terrific listening experience, rewarding from almost every conceivable perspective. The musicians here changed her and she herself responded with challenges to her own abilities. I wish I had caught this tour. Pastorious is possessed, Mays is at his impressionistic best and Metheny is a foil for Mitchell the likes of which she'd never again replicate. Becker brings that East Coast jazz vibe that only he can muster and he is incendiary, smokey, subtle and brilliant.
As other reviews have pointed out, the video is at times too naff for words. Artistic pretensions or literal images absolutely take the whole thing down a notch. But the sound as presented on this DVD is extraordinary, so if the images are that stupid, just listen to it. It is a sublime reward, and perhaps the single strongest vindication of Mitchell's jazz aspirations. Sheer genius.

Finally!!! This 1979 historically significant concert is released in digital format. Joni Mitchell's "Shadows and Light" concert is significant for three reasons: 1) Combining Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorious, Lyle Mayes and Don Alias (all first rate solo Jazz stars in their own right) pushes Joni's music through the roof of excellence for pop, Jazz and World Music. The chemsitry is exceptional and the song selections fit right into the pocket of these great musicians improvisational skills. 2) This was the last time that Pat Metheny and Jaco played together. Seeing them jam live is a musical treat. 3) Joni is in top form and pushed to new heights on some of her classic tracks. Her music has never sounded better - and seeing it performed this way is candy for both your ears and eyes.

The hightlights of the concert are numerous. My favorite moments include the exceptional battle between Jaco and Brecker on "Dry Cleaner From Des Moines". They push each other to atmospheric heights as the rest of the band hangs on for dear life. "Goodbeye Pork Pie Hat" will break your heart - with Joni's lyrics telling the story of Lester Young's life to a back drop of bass harmonics and musical sensibility that had to make Charlie Mingus smile from heaven. The band flat out rocks on "In France They Kiss on Main Street" and "Black Crow". It is great to see Pat Metheny play in this format. Whether comping behind the beat or soloing - it is easy to see why he is considered one of the best and most flexible guitarist out there. Brecker is right at home with these guys and Alias is exceptional in keeping all the magic glued together. The star of this performance is Joni. Her poetic writing and excellent voice pulls you into each song and let's you fully take in the music. Jaco was her trusted musical soulmate during the late 70's and his contributions here are significant. His bass is front and center in the mix and his tone is perfect for Joni's textured vocals. This recording is near perfect - leaving you wanting more.

I throughly enjoyed this period of Joni Mitchell's music. One of the most influencial artist in the recording industry, her career has provided us with restlessly innovative music that crosses musical boundraries without hesitation. Here, we get to see and hear her magic performed with one of the tightest group of musicians period. Excellent & Exceptional!!! Don't miss this significant piece of music history. Enjoy!

Possibly one of my favorite Joni albums ever. This DVD almost does it justice. The music is outstanding. The music video clips that everyone is complaining about is prolly a result of a musician thinking that shots of them playing can get kinda boring after awhile. So some footage of other stuff could be put in there to spice things up a bit. This is done in all modern music videos and no one seems to mind. Maybe there is an unwritten prohibition against doing it in a live concert video.

Anyway, if you like PMG and the Joni Jazz Phase, get this. If you don't like the occasional flights of fancy, just close yer eyes and make up your own.

best music video I have ever seen,please re-release

This was a fantastic concert with an absolutely incredible backup band, each member who could headline any venue. One of my favorite moments is when Jaco Pastorius cuts loose with a looping solo. A friend of mine has the Laser Disc of this concert and I am dying to get a high-quality 5.1 channel DVD.