Customer Reviews

Live at the Jazz Cafe

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Without noticing it, I've become somewhat of a ...Sister fan, and while I have usually liked most of what they have done, the recording technique has been all over the map. Amazingly, from that perspective, this live album is pretty much the best, once you overlook Corrinnes vocals being slightly subdued in the mix, which I tend to find 'relaxing' and fits in well with a very funky, pleasant, 'smooth' sounding CD. But be warned that at times she tends to be 'in the middle' as opposed to 'in your face' and some people might object to that particular balance.

Favorites include the live version of 'Get in Touch w/ Yourself', 'Everyday Crime' and even 'Circulate'. In all but the last I prefer the live versions. With 'Circulate', it's a wash, both are different yet equally as good. The only 'bummer' (and a slight one at that) of a track for me is 'Am I the Same Girl', which I downright loved on the studio version, but for me just misses some of the funkiness live. Maybe it's the sparser/relaxed arrangement I find lacking; I miss the string/synth fills and 'feel' and 'depth' of the studio cut. Overall however, this CD shows that Swing out Sister can flat out play live, and that they are not just a studio multitrack creation. Highly recommended if you are a ...Sister fan.

I am a relatively recent convert to Swing Out Sister. To me, the real test of a group is the ability to sing and perform live since it isn't in a studio to have all the equipment "pretty up" the sound and vocals. I was VERY impressed with Corinne's vocals and Andrew's keyboard skills as well the background singers and musicians. SOS is a "Breakout" group and it's a shame they are not as popular here in the US as they are overseas. On the news section of their website, it says they are planning a tour this spring, unfortunately, all the venues are overseas, including the Jazz Cafe (April 3,4, & 5th, 2005 per the Jazz Cafe website), where this album was recorded 12 years ago. Hopefully, they'll throw some US dates in there.

S.O.S. live album is a much better recording that I expected, after seeing an unfortunate live appearance on David Letterman some years ago. The album samples from S.O.S.' first three studio efforts, and provides a transition of sorts from those previous efforts to the lounge-jazz inflected "The Living Return." Though it can be argued that S.O.S. natural milieu is Pop, "Live at the Jazz Cafe" offers evidence that they are more versatile than radio (and music buyers) give them credit for being.

The album begins with a low-key remake of "Get In Touch With Yourself," which owes less to Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On" than the studio original. "You On My Mind" is slowed down from the original; the relaxed tempo and melodic variations make this version preferable to the cut that appears on "Kaleidoscope World." The rhythmic re-working for "Surrender" isn't a convincing improvement, and the languid pace of this version is a bit of a bore.

"Everyday Crime" sounds a lot like the original, though the extended intro and closing is a nice touch. "Twilight World" benefits from a new arrangement, sounding more spontaneous and groove-bound than the leaden original from "It's Better To Travel." The key change toward the end really brings out the best in the vocal arrangement. "Circulate" is perhaps one of S.O.S. least impressive songs, and the addition of some inventive percussion isn't enough to make this version a winner.

The closing tracks of this disc are some of the best, particularly "Am I The Same Girl" and the extended-lenghth, multi-tempo version of S.O.S. signature hit, "Breakout." The latter track is probably the biggest surprise on this CD for fans...the lounge-jazz re-working of this great Pop tune sounds altogether natural and fluid, retaining the song's original appeal while adding shimmering rhythmic and vocal flourishes.

"Live at the Jazz Cafe" is a solid and very likeable album, but as Pop music "translated" into Jazz it isn't likely to win S.O.S. many converts. S.O.S. touring band does itself proud, as does Andy Connell with his new arrangements. Yet Corinne is not the type of vocalist one would expect of a Jazz combo, and despite the fact that she sounds more relaxed in her vocals, her timbre is too thin to cause listeners to sit up and pay attention. She also seems a bit "behind" the band and the musical improvisations in the material.

This is an album for S.O.S. fans, and a well-considered stab at musical growth for a band that refuses to be strictly categorized.

-Mic

Doesn't matter wheather you're an SOS fan or not: if you have to save few albums and take them with you in the "desert island", this is one.
It's a groovy mixture of jazz, funky and pop. All songs are deeply rearranged compared to the studio version and it's a surprise (expecially if you already know the original versions) to listen to the new arrangement of "Twilight World" or "Am I the Same Girl" (to name a couple); the sound is rich, with each instrument playing at its best: guitar, bass, drums and percussions, keyboards, great arrangements of the brass section and, of course, the beautiful Corinne's voice.
There's a lot of fantasy and good taste in the whole thing.
My favourite song at the moment is "Who let the love out".

When the Jazz Cafe gigs were advertised I got tickets for both nights(I'm a fan). The intimate nature of the venue means you're really close to the stage - which in my case means I'm only half aware of the music - my mind being taken over by Corinne's presence. So it was a must for me to get this cd when it came out. And I was amazed at how fantastic it sounds. It took me all the way back to that warm wonderful weekend in Camden Town. S.O.S. has great musicians to back up C's excellent vocals and for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to hear them live, this is a great alternative.

This CD shows SOS at their best, mixing their sound with latin jazz (witness the incredible spanglish[?] rumba/slasa/samba version of Circulate). Also there's a little reggae (Am I the Same Girl), and the samba intro in Breakout. Too bad their record company is just too ignorant to know how to "market" them. Corinne, necesitas practicar un poco tu espanol antes de cantar, pero el intento valio la pena!

Well, this isn't exactly the GREATEST LIVE POP RECORDING ever, as is suggested elsewhere - I suspect that the Who ("Live at Leeds") and Bob Dylan ("Before the Flood") might have something to say about that. But it IS a remarkably well-recorded live album. SOS songs are rich in texture and dynamics, and this live recording is full of sonic details and clarity. The soundstaging is marvelous, and the balance is perfect - one could almost imagine that Steely Dan lent its studio technicians to SOS for the evening to make this record, it's that good.

It's disappointing that SOS doesn't have a larger following in the U.S. They certainly are very, very accomplished at working successfully within the realm of the perfectly-composed and -polished pop tune. They're not Burt Bachrach or Jimmy Webb, but it's not going too far to say that they have shown themselves to be honorable and faithful spiritual successors.

In my opinion, this is the best of all the Swing out Sister albums. The thing that impresses me most about it is the phenominal clarity of the live recordings. This is the best album I've ever heard in that regard. You really get the feeling of being in the club at which they recorded the record. "Breakout" is my favorite cut off the disc, mainly because of Andrew Connell's awesome keyboard work on the intro to the track.

Great engineering and mixing job. Songs sound crystal clear. All songs have different twists and arrangements than the original versions so there are plenty of surprises. A must have for any Swing Out Sister fan

I've caught SOS in concert three times, twice in small settings like this recording and it truely captures the performance as I remebered it. If you love SOS then you'll definately love this recording. I only wish they'd record their latest show that I caught last year at the House of Blues in LA.