Customer Reviews

Live in San Francisco [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great live set (two actually) that shows why Stephane was able to make any song, old or new, sound like it was written the night he played it. The combination of traditional and modern sounds in this quartet is lovely, and all players add their particular strengths to the mix. When Stephane plays the electric violin, it's as if he was born to it, and the interplay between Martin Taylor and Diz Disley, with their very different guitar styles, is great fun. For the money, it's well worth having.

Only one complaint: the camera work, especially in the outdoor section, is naturally terrible, as it is on almost every music film I've ever seen. I personally just want to watch the musicians play (so I can steal their stuff!), not see "artistic" shots of the crowd etc. But don't let that bother you; this is a wonderful DVD.

Note that track 14 is mislabeled on the DVD; it's actually "Time After Time" by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, not "Danny Boy."

After hearing many CDs of Grappelli, which have been mostly consistently wonderful, I was a little worried about finally seeing him for the 1st time: even though this is an edited VHS still, sometimes a person just doesn't come off as good as his art.

But this VHS has been even more than I hoped for. The production is as low-key as it gets, no narration, no intros, no background. But it captures an hour's worth of wonderful live performances that had me delightedly clapping along with the audiences after each number.

Now I realize why the music grabs me so. After seeing Grappelli, it is apparent that the warmth that comes from his music is the natural extension of a sunny, generous, embracing, and confident personality. And the band that plays with him is obviously in tune with his art. This is a great little video of a great, great artist and performer.

I love old jazz classics and grappelli is one of my absolute favorites, however, to purchase a "used" vhs(Live in San Francisco) was a stretch for me assumming an unknown "used condition". I've never bought "used" anything but I rationalized that if Amazon can risk their reputation on brokering "used" products, its worth trying once. The vhs container/box was well worn and showed its age, but to my very pleasent surprise the video (sound & color)are clear, bright and perfect "like new". you did good Amazon, thank you

1. California, Here I Come
2. I've Got Rhythm
3. Fascinating Rhythm
4. Let's Fall in Love
5. Tea for Two
6. Swing 42
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. After You've Gone
9. You Are the Sunshine of my Life
10. Minor Swing
11. Here, There, and Everywhere
12. St. Louis Blues
13. Danny Boy
14. Them There Eyes
15. After You've Gone
16. Sweet Georgia Brown

This DVD has the look of a film more than that of videotape like the DVD Grappelli in New Orleans. It is taken from filming at two venues in the San Francisco area back in 1982. The audio and video quality are pretty good, considering that they're over 20 years old. Grappelli is his usual brilliant self, only on this DVD he plays piano for a couple of tunes (he was actually quite good at jazz piano) and plays a blue electric violin (or is it a viola?) on a couple of tunes as well. The final number is Sweet Georgia Brown, a tune he played at almost every gig, accompanied by mandolin virtuoso David Grisman and his bandmates Darol Anger (fiddle), Mike Marshall (mandolin), and Rob Wasserman (bass). Included with the performances is a brief bio. If you like Stephane Grappelli you'll love this DVD.

Grappelli in concert at two S.F. area venues in July 1982. His group features a very young Martin Taylor, already a quite polished guitarist, who you can see pleases Stephane greatly with his solos and accompaniment. The David Grisman group joins Stephane for only the final track--a short but sweet "Sweet Georgia Brown." The only dud is a lackluster duet between Grappelli's electric violin and Taylor on "Here, There,and Everywhere." Otherwise, this is a valuable and enjoyable 58-minute document of the great jazz violinist.

16072 · Stephane Grappelli
Live In San Francisco 1982
Two "sessions" from 1982 with the legendary violinist who became famous together with Django Reinhardt; On July 4th Grappelli is playing the "string swing" tradition with guitarist Martin Taylor, among others, and on July 7th David Grisman Band is special guest. Great acoustic guitar and string jazz.

stephane grappelli:live in san francisco 1985