Product Details

• Actors: Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hip-O Records
• DVD Release Date: December 5, 2006
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000JJRY9M
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,068 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Elvis Costello has had numerous collaborators over the years, in genres ranging from classical (the Brodsky Quartet, mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie Von Otter) to jazz (pianists Marian McPartland and Diana Krall, Costello's wife) to pop (Burt Bacharach), but his partnership with New Orleans pianist-arranger-producer-songwriter Allen Toussaint has to rank among the most fruitful. Having worked together in the past (on a track for a Yoko Ono tribute project, weirdly enough), the two joined forces again in 2005 for Hurricane Katrina relief concerts; a CD (The River in Reverse) followed, as well as an '06 tour, during which Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade was recorded in Montreal. They certainly had a lot of resources to draw on. Costello's Imposters are the rhythm section, while Toussaint brought along the Crescent City Horns; and considering the amount of available material, including new compositions as well as numerous items from their respective catalogues, it's a wonder that they were able to pare down the songlist to the 25 performed here. It's all rather righteous, but Elvis' songs are a revelation; as was the case with the Band's Rock of Ages, one of the great live albums, Toussaint's arrangements breathe new life into old favorites like "Pump it Up" (a killer riff made all the more so by the horns) and "Alison" (given an almost classical horn-woodwind intro), as well as "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" (from Spike), perhaps the most deeply soulful tune of the whole show. Mix in Toussaint offerings like "A Certain Girl," "Yes We Can Can" (the Pointer Sisters hit), and "Fortune Teller," all bona fide rock 'n' soul classics, and we're looking at a near embarrassment of riches. The audio mix is disconcerting, sounding as if a couple of mikes were placed at the back of the hall instead of onstage, but by and large, the music transcends. Extras include a Costello-Toussaint interview but little else of much interest. --Sam Graham

Product Description

RECORDED LIVE IN MONTREAL IN 2006, during his month long tour in support of "The River in Reverse," a collaboration with New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint and featuring his regular backing group, The Imposters, along with Toussaint and his New Orleans Horn Section, The Crescent City Horns.

1. Intro
2. Monkey To Man
3. A Certain Girl
4. Clownstrike
5. Tears Tears And More Tears
6. Tears Before Bedtime
7. Poisoned Rose
8. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
9. Broken Promise Land
10. Freedom For The Stallion
11. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
12. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
13. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)
14. Bedlam
15. Watching The Detectives
16. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
17. Episode Of Blonde
18. Pump It Up
19. Yes We Can Can
20. Fortune Teller
21. Big Chief Medley
22. International Echo
23. Clubland
24. Six-Fingered Man
25. The Sharpest Thorn
26. Band Introductions
27. Credits
28. Alison
29. Band Introductions
30. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
31. Alison
32. Interview with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
33. Photo Gallery / Yes We Can Can / Fortune Teller

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Costello and Toussaint began the collaboration that resulted in "The River in Reverse." The album includes new and old compositions by Toussaint, several songs co-written by Toussaint and Costello, plus one new Costello original, the title track.

Musicians featured on the project include The Imposters, as well as Toussaint's horn section and guitarist. Presented in 5.1 surround sound, this amazing DVD includes incredible live performances of Elvis songs spanning the last four decades.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent DVD - Could have been perfect, January 27, 2007

By	M. Perry - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike Elvis Costello's heavily edited Live in Memphis DVD from 2 years ago (which was about 80 minutes long before the bonus cuts), this Elvis and Allen Toussaint concert clocks in at just over 2 hours long. The musicianship and song selection on this performance are absolutely superb. Allen Toussaint's horn charts are such a joy, (especially on some of EC's more obscure songs) and the horn players themselves are out of this world. What particularly adds to the enjoyment of this DVD is how animated the horn section is playing Allen's charts. You can tell each of them are really having a blast during the show.

In addition to the horns, the ever reliable Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas play as wonderfully as someone familiar with their work would expect. But the real joy comes from seeing (or more appropriately said, hearing) Davey Faragher on bass and vocals. His musical contributions to this show dramatically add to the overall vibe. His bass lines are extremely soulful, and his background vocals are absolutely beautiful.

Given all of these positive factors, there are two reasons why this release comes up just short of perfect.

1 - The editing. One reviewer has already briefly alluded to this specific question, what the heck happened to the great Toussaint original "On Your Way Down"? This is the song that opens up "The River In Reverse" album. It was clearly played very early in the set list and removed from this disc. If the perfromance wasn't up to snuff, that's fine. But the removal of the track leads to two clear cut dialogue inconsistencies during the DVD. The first, immediately after performing "Monkey To Man", Elvis refers to the track as a Toussaint song. And later on in the show, Elvis actually refers to "On Your Way Down" as a song heard earlier in the show. I could see if this disc was three hours long and jammed packed with extras how a mistake like this could have been made, but this DVD clocks in at 2 hours long. Where did this, and the other edited out songs go? Space limitations don't apply to a two hour DVD.

2 - The mix - Where the heck are Anthony "AB" Brown's guitar and Allen Toussaint's piano???? All these great rhythmic parts and soulful flavor that AB and Allen add to the groove are almost completely buried behind, of all things, Elvis' guitar on a number of songs. Granted, I love these performaces, and Elvis is right up the top of my all time favorite artists, but man alive Elvis, turn your distorted guitar down a little bit and let these guys groove. At least four or five songs on here fall down from the pure genius category to simply enjoyable solely because Elvis has got his guitar cranked, (so not needed with the band he's got with him).

These two criticisms aside, you owe it to yourself to get this DVD. The music on here is a true joy. As Elvis says in the liner notes, I hope these guys revisit this repertoire very soon....

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EC's best DVD so far!, December 17, 2006

By	Phil NJ (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Excellent DVD. Great performances by EC and Toussant and their bands. Filming and audio is first rate. I think this is EC's best collaboration yet! The "River In Reverse" songs are very powerfully delivered here, and outshine the original album recordings.
Highlights: "A Certain Girl" & "Brother" and "Bedlem". Unfortunately the classic, "On Your Way Down" went missing from the original Montreal setlist -- due to technical difficulties? Bonus materials. Good picture gallery, "Alison" - Medley, EC/Tousssant interview is interesting, but doesn't cover much new ground.
Overall, highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect show., March 22, 2007

By	Jon E. Thornton "Heavy Soul" (Los Angeles, CA. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A wonderful moment in the careers of two fine singer-songwriters. The 9 new arrangements of Elvis's tunes by Allen are nothing less than a revelation. Both performers play within their respective comfort zones and obviously have a love and mutual respect for each other and their music. The Imposters and the New Orleans horn section augment each other impressively. This must have been one of the highlights of last years Montreal Jazz Festival and is a must own for any true fan of Costello or the remarkable Mr. Toussaint! Highly recommended!!