Customer Reviews

Norah Jones and The Handsome Band - Live in 2004

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a connoisseur of music on DVD, I am puzzled by some of the previous reviewers' remarks. I've watched it twice now, and in my opinion this is one of the finest music DVD's to be released in years.

It goes without saying that there is more musical talent in a Q-tip full of Nora Jones' earwax than in any three of the current crop of silly, belly-baring "stars" that have been manufactured for our consumption, and this DVD highlights her talent perfectly.

The fantastic group of musicians that she so graciously introduces to us, (both in her band and appearing as special guests,) only add to the experience. This is stage playing at its very best, and everyone involved seems to be inspired to deliver their all, simply because they are playing with Nora.

Finally, the arrangements, lighting, cinematography, editing and direction are all at or near top-notch. I simply can't think of any complaints; even blurring is used artistically during some of the shot changes, and along with wide-angles and closeups, we get a cornucopia of "musicians" shots of fingers and hands at work on strings and keys.

If you like Nora Jones even a little bit, buy this DVD and after watching it, you'll like her a lot more.

And finally, to those reviewers who seem to feel compelled to comment on her appearance: In my book, she sounds and plays so well that it wouldn't make any difference if she looked like W.C. Fields. That she is beautiful is just a minor and almost irrelevant fringe benefit to being able to watch her genius in action.

It's amazing what a couple years of touring and stage savvy can do.

While I never purchased "Norah Jones: Live in New Orleans," the lengthy preview I had of it prompted me to give it a pass. Not that I dislike Jones or her talented backing ensemble. I really felt that she looked scared to death in New Orleans. The close-up camera shots emphasized every nervous grimace and accentuated the beads of sweat on her face. It gave me a most unpleasant feeling watching her like that. It was like she was horrified that we might see her make a rookie mistake or something.

"Norah Jones and the Handsome Band: Live in 2004" thankfully has none of the close-ups, none of the nervous looking grimaces and all of the polish an experienced touring band is able to provide. That and Norah, for this disc anyways, seems to be really comfortable on stage in front of the camera.

Fans of her CDs will not find the band straying far from their recorded arrangements. The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is clean and captures the band's instruments nicely. I had a minor niggle with the mix being predominantly from the front channels only. The rear channels just provide crowd sounds for the greater degree.

In all, every song is well performed. There isn't a weak moment on the whole disc. It is an intimate, relaxed DVD that would be great to entertain with. In addition to Jones herself, standouts for me were Kevin Breit's rootsy rhythm guitar playing, percussionist Andrew Borger's expressive work on his kit and a demure Daru Oda providing some sublime backing vocals.

I was very pleased playing this disc and much relieved that I didn't get a repeat of the New Orleans one.

Upon this DVD's release, I bought it at the Suncoast Video price at $19.99 (little to my knowledge there was a best buy next door with the DVD for $14.99). Even though 5 dollars was wasted... I wasn't so mad after I watched it.

Pros: Perfect Singing by Norah Jones, DARU ODA!!!, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Richard Julian. A different taste of the "Feels Like Home" CD. Handsome Band Documentaries, Opening scenes (the empty auditorium for "What Am I To You?" and "The Prettiest Thing"), revived tracks from "Come Away With Me"

Cons: If you're expecting the CD "Feels Like Home" to be sung note for note, rhythm for rhythm on the DVD, you're in for disappointment. If you want to listen to all the tracks you have to bend around the Special Features section for "Toes", "Creepin' In" (Without Dolly), "Come Away With Me", and "She".

CONCERT:
What Am I To You? - 5/5
Sunrise - 5/5 (For a uniquely different style)
Those Sweet Words - 5/5
In The Morning - 4/5
Carnival Town - 5/5 (AMAZING)
That's The Way The World Goes Round - 4/5
Humble Me - 4/5
Don't Miss You At All - 5/5 (Excellent Display)
The Long Way Home - 5/5 (Daru on flute is amazing)
Don't Know Why - 5/5 (Excellent, pure)
Creepin' In - 3/5 (The Album track is beyond better, Dolly Parton stops singing at times to talk and shriek losing my enthusiasm...)
The Prettiest Thing - 4/5
Moon Song - 4/5
Above Ground - 5/5 (Perfect)
Loretta - 4/5
Life Is A Carnival - 4/5

Concert Grade - 4.4375 - 4/5

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Performances:
She - 5/5
Come Away With Me - 5/5 (Pure)
Creepin' In - 3/5 (Needs Dolly)
Toes - 5/5

Music Videos:
What Am I To You? - 3/5 (Shots of the band?)
Those Sweet Words - 4/5 (Simplistic, yet beautiful)

Now I think the Sunrise Video should definetely be there... I love the Sunrise Video...

Mini - Documentaries:
The Handsome Band Bio: From the Beginning - 5/5
24 Hours on the Handsome Bus - 4/5
Robbie and Adam's Guitar Tour - 2/5 (I got so bored...)

Special Features Grade - 4 - 4/5

FINAL RATING - 4/5

Her father (Ravi Shankar) was the best musician in India.
Even The Beatles got much influence from her father.
Now Shankar's deserted daughter grabs the world of music.
Fom Nashiville, she sang like a bird & her band back up in fine
harmony.

Daru Oda(Former Touring Driver, Now Back Up Vocal & Flute)
isn't shy anymore(In New Orleans DVD, She was so nervous for singing).She's so cute - to me she's a scene stealer of Norah
Jones. Oda loves Neil Young so much.

Godmother of Nashiville -Dolly Parton- suddenly came out of back stage, gave audience a memorable duet with Norah...

If you pass this DVD, you're not a music lover,
or you don't have DVD Player.

The songcraft captured on this DVD is some of the finest I have ever seen anywhere. That Norah combines superhuman talent with such a lovely, gracious stage presence, is really hard to believe unless you see it for yourself. What I really wanted to comment on, though, was the audio quality. I simply have never heard a recording with such amazing dynamic range, incredibly low noise, and superb engineering in my entire life. It sounds unbelievably wonderful turned up loud. They must be doing some new stuff with DVD audio because I've never heard anything like this. (For reference, I played it through an Adcom GFP-555, GFA-555, and Klipsch RF-5 loudspeakers) I think I'm going to go smash my iPod as soon as I finish writing this. In summary, this may well be the best $15 I have ever spent. I might need to spend a couple thousand more for a big flat screen to enjoy it on.

Norah Jones' 2004 DVD is an excellent concert set, technically well recorded & edited, as well as an artistic success. Never having seen Norah live, I was most impressed by her gracious and giving nature onstage. She gives credit to her accompanying musicians and uses many songs that they have written. Particularly impressive is the drummer Andrew Borger whose broad smile and enthusiasm for Norah and her music brighten the stage. Borger had worked with Chuck Prophet and Tom Waits, which may explain why Norah does a Waits' song co-written with Kathleen Brennan called "The Long Way Home." He also composed "Above Ground" from the "Feels Like Home" CD that appears in this set. Robbie McIntosh was a favorite of mine from his 3 Compass CDs including one of my favorite tunes "Emotional Bends," which was a title track of one release. McIntosh has toured with Paul McCartney & the Pretenders; so his addition to Norah's band is exquisite. "Moon Song" that was not included on the "Feels Like Home" CD is a beautiful tune; so it is a joy to hear here. I thought that I & 70 people from New York City (including Art Garfunkel) were probably the only Richard Julian fans on the planet. One of his tunes, "Siberia," went to #1 on my personal top ten last year. His joining Norah on a John Prine song "That's the Way the World Goes Round" is an utter treat here about a guy who beats his wife with a rubber hose & then takes her out to buy new clothes. With Prine's wry sense of humor & Norah's delightful mischievous side that shines through, this is a great track. Kevin Breit who wears a funky fedora onstage has left the band and released his own CD that depending on the listing sometimes appears as "John & the Sisters" or "Kevin Breit & the Sisters," wrote "Humble Me" that Norah performs beautifully. Norah is wonderfully gracious to the sparkling Dolly Parton who guests on Borger's "Creepin' In." At 60, Dolly's got incredible energy & style and seems to have a genuine chemistry with Norah, despite a great difference in their stage manner. Norah is equally as giving to guests Gillian Welsh & David Rawlings who guest on Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta." Whether on the "Oh Brother" DVD that was also filmed at Nashville's Ryman or on this set, I always get a kick out of David Rawlings' stage enthusiasm. Daru Oda is a delight singing backup. I also greatly enjoyed Norah's version of The Band's "Life Is A Carnival." This is an excellent concert DVD! Enjoy!

Wow! Someone complaining about vocals being too far forward in the mix on a Norah Jones DVD?!? Go figure! And the bass is too boomy?!? NO! That's an upright bass. It sounds exactly like what it's supposed to sound like! This is not the best sounding DVD I have ever heard (IMO, that would be the John Denver Wildlife Concert), but it's darn good! I do think it could have looked better. It probably should have been HD video, not film, but it's okay for what it is. I'm just glad it's widescreen. If you're a fan of Norah Jones, you MUST have this!

Recently got this DVD because it looked like it had all her recent stuff. It has my favorites of her from the last 2 albums. It's like being at one of her concerts. The music is so rich and soothing - just has to put me in a mellow mood.

I regret that I didn't drive over to Nashville and attend the concert. My only complaint is that the "Sunrise" video wasn't included. I haven't seen all of the two short documentaries yet - I go to the music each time.

Definitely recommend it.

Norah's last DVD, from a performance in New Orleans, was visually stunning and an audiophile's dream (if a bit heavy on the bass). This DVD is grainy, occasionally out of focus, and has a decent, but not great, sound (no DTS).

I'll keep this short and sweet...this is one of the best DVD's I own. Start with an amazing, gifted singer in Jones, add a fantastic group of instrumentalists, a spattering of excellent numbers with varied guests, set it in an intimate auditorium and recording it all with beautiful cinematography (yes, it's film) and you have this DVD. An outstanding work all the way around!