Customer Reviews

Lee Ritenour and Friends - Live from the Cocoanut Grove - Vols. 1 & 2

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

 

 

This DVD of Rit's is both a potpouree of who's who in his many earlier cd's, and a real treat for those who have not seen them together live.He has the usual group of "technicians" in the sets, but he adds Joao Bosco and Paulinho da Costa, from the "FESTIVAL" CD sessions, and makes it all come alive. That set alone makes this a MUST to "Captain Fingers" fans. It is, a must amoung the sadly small choices of great jazz music dvd's. You'll love it, and it's 2 for 1 ! WOW!

Trust me, this CD is NOT in Japanese. Both Joao Bosco and Phil Perry sing BRAZILIAN songs sung in the native tongue of Brazil. And I don't remember Lee singing at all, not even backup.

Not mentioned is two tunes featuing Rit and Steve Lukather (of Toto). They both light up "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" and finish with a BRAZILIAN song sung by Phil Perry.

Some cool tunes with Tuck and Patti and a couple of tunes from "Stolen Moments."

Outstanding- Lee Ritenour has come a long way he always shows great musicianship.I've been a fan of this guy for years,if you look at this line up then you'lle agree that this was actually the start of "Fourplay" Bob James,Harvey Mason and Lee Ritenour only one guy joined later and that is Nathan East.But these cats are always together and they are some of the best muzos around the world.Buy this DVD because there are so many extras in the line up Paulino da Costa,Joao Bosco and Anthony Jackson.As music lovers we have to understand that you can not buy a 80's recording and expect it to sound like it was recorded today enjoy the music.

One of my favorite artists he will have you enjoying the evening. A must get DVD.

I've been a fan of 'Rit' for almost thirty years and have had the pleasure of seeing him play just the once, in a rather strange place in London called the 'Jazz Cafe'. He has in the past been criticised for playing in different genres but for me that is his virtuosity. Taste and preference aside, I doubt anyone, with credibility, could question his technical dexterity, his mastery of the guitar and his understanding of music. And a brief handshake after his London performance suggests he's a nice man to boot! The performance captured on this DVD is a showcase for Rit's talents playing a variety of guitars from a big, fat Gibson to a fairly rare outing with a solid electric (a rather nice, battle weary Fender Strat). As a solo artist of this calibre, I suspect it's relatively easy to enlist the assistance of the likes of Harvey Mason Jr on drums and Anthony Jackson on bass. Added treats like the slightly reclusive Paulinho da Costa on percussion and Steve Lukather for a highly charged guitar duet make this a beautifully balanced performance. To watch someone like this (or Antonio Forcione, Jeff Beck, Acoustic Alchemy, Larry Carlton et al) makes me undecided as to whether I should take some serious lessons or pass on my guitar to someone more deserving. Oh... just buy the DVD!

This DVD is terrible! It's in Japanese.... the tunes are cool, but I did not know that Lee spoke Japanese. It's not Japenese overdub, he's actually singing in Japenese. It was just TOO wierd to watch. So, unless you like cool Jazz sung in Japensese, don't get this one