Customer Reviews

Live

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This is from their "Vocalese" tour, which I had the pleasure of winning two tickets on a radio and being able to see. Since then, I've seen then 8 times and even had the pleasure of meeting all, except Tim Hauser. They were all charming and gracious. The "Live" CD is perhaps the epitome of what the ManTran does best. They will absolutely blow you out of your seat. Listen to "Airegin," and see if you can sing along. Or "Move," which is even faster in its presentation. Yes, I agree with most reviewers that these cats can do live what they do in the studio. They have certainly been such a positive influence on my musical style. This should be in any jazz lover's collection withou question.

One of the best things about this vocal group is that for the most part, what they record in the studio is able to be performed live. They make that transition very well here, and, honestly, I prefer hearing the group live than their studio recordings. There are several songs here from their album "Vocalese" that are even more fun to listen to while being performed live. I also think this is a perfect album for someone not familiar with the group as it offers a pastiche of the styles of music for which The Manhattan Transfer is famous. However, this album was recorded in 1986 and I really wish that the Transfer would release a more recent live recording that would also cover some of their later achievements, including the albums to follow "Vocalese:" "Brasil," "Offbeat of Avenues," "Tonin'," and "Swing." I always recommend this album to people. I think it's a perfect companion to the Antholgy.

This is what I think every time I listen to this CD. It is absolutely a "must have" for anyone who loves TMT, the BEST jazz vocal group without any doubt. I really like all the tracks but I think the live version of "shaker song" is spectacular, not to mention the delightful "that's killer Joe" (I would really like to be like that Joe.....)!

Everything is a bit faster and with this driving vibe that only live performances seem to have. And also, you know how with some of great bands when they play live you catch yourself thinking, how's it possible? this out-of-tune junk can't be them... I'm not talking some garage bands: even the early Deep Purple was like that, Gillan not hitting right notes, guitar out of tune, etc. Not here! TMT perform live at their recorded level. I have to honestly say that I prefer some of the live versions here over their recorded equivalents.

Btw, there's a DVD with this (I think) show, check it out too: it seems to have all the stuff that's on this CD, note for note, and in addition a version of Blue Champagne that BEATS its recorded original on TMT (and always brings tears to my eyes). This DVD is out of print (rent it on Netflix!), but I think the concert itself is also present on the double-featured DVD where they're paired with a Carmen McRae concert in Japan (not a shabby thing to have in its own right). It is Double Time Jazz Collection, Vol. 1.