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Rating: 
Summary: I've waited sooo long!! :(
Review: 5 stars for the performance, but -4 stars for the DVD. :(
The sound on this is almost unlistenable and the picture also shakes throughout the entire DVD making it also unwatchable. I've been waiting for a DVD copy of this for years. It's finally here and it's been absolutely ruined.
EDIT: On a side note, I actually own the VHS version of this concert and it is nearly flawless. The video on the DVD shakes so bad that it literally gave me a headache. The audio contains a low pitched hum in the background that absolutely ruins the music itself. I cannot stress this enough - you will be extremely disappointed unless the manufacturers can somehow fix these problems. I bought 2 copies and had to send them both back.
EDIT #2: Some of these reviewers giving this DVD 5 stars must not have even watched this. I'll state this as clearly as possible AGAIN. The VHS performance of this released overseas has good sound and video. This DVD has horrible sound and video. It's not the 'source' material. The company manufacturing these DVDs blew it big time. I've seen this performance on laserdisc, VHS and television. All were just fine. But I had to turn off this DVD after 5 minutes - I couldn't believe how bad it actually was. It makes me mad that some people on here are giving this release 5 stars and misleading people. Please don't support companies that release fantastic concerts in such a horrible way.
Rating:
Summary: I've waited sooo long!! :(
Review: 5 stars for the performance, but -4 stars for the DVD. :(The sound on this is almost unlistenable and the picture also shakes throughout the entire DVD making it also unwatchable. I've been waiting for a DVD copy of this for years. It's finally here and it's been absolutely ruined. EDIT: On a side note, I actually own the VHS version of this concert and it is nearly flawless. The video on the DVD shakes so bad that it literally gave me a headache. The audio contains a low pitched hum in the background that absolutely ruins the music itself. I cannot stress this enough - you will be extremely disappointed unless the manufacturers can somehow fix these problems. I bought 2 copies and had to send them both back.
Rating:
Summary: garbage quality
Review: awful ! jumpy, bad sound...what a shame.
Rating:
Summary: great performance, awful DVD quality
Review: Having read the reviews of this DVD about how bad its quality is, I went to one of the biggest music stores in the city to see if they would let me watch it in store before deciding to buy it. They did let me watch it and, yes, the picture quality is AWFUL, its grainy and shaky. You can't watch this without getting motion sickness, and the sound was muffled. It's probably the bad conversion from PAL to NTSC that ruined this otherwise spectacular video. I actually own a PAL VHS of this concert and it looks/sounds okay. So, unless you are absolutely dying to see this performance no matter what, do not buy this DVD...
Rating: 
Summary: As expected
Review: I just received the DVD for Meeting of the Spirits bye John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia & Larry Coryell, and it was as I expected it to be. I already own the VHS concert, which I bought a couple of years back, and I must tell you, the tape has it's limitations in video quality and sound, and that's why I expected it to be this way, but it wasn't. The sound on the DVD is clearer and the image is brighter, and after all this is THE production of the show. For fans it will be incredible tought to find a better quality production for this concert.
But then again, it's difficult to find High Quality DVDs productions of these three artists.
My recomendation is to buy it if you see it. Because die-hard fans will go after the show in any way they can find it. For me, it's better to view it this way, than not view it at all. And the price is not that high either.
If you like these 3 artists, then set back in your couch, turn the sound up and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: As expected
Review: I just received the DVD for Meeting of the Spirits bye John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia & Larry Coryell, and it was as I expected it to be. I already own the VHS concert, which I bought a couple of years back, and I must tell you, the tape has it's limitations in video quality and sound, and that's why I expected it to be this way, but it wasn't. The sound on the DVD is clearer and the image is brighter, and after all this is THE production of the show. For fans it will be incredible tought to find a better quality production for this concert.
But then again, it's difficult to find High Quality DVDs productions of these three artists.
My recomendation is to buy it if you see it. Because die-hard fans will go after the show in any way they can find it. For me, it's better to view it this way, than not view it at all. And the price is not that high either.
If you like these 3 artists, then set back in your couch, turn the sound up and enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A historical occasion
Review: Let me get the quality issue out of the way first: this concert was broadcast by the BBC in the UK and the broadcast was not good quality. Most of this seems to be atributable in part to the live sound mix, and in part to the production.
Now, having said this, John's performances are inspired. Most of this is true improvisation, with John and Paco strecthing out over lengthy arrangements. This is a real contrast with the formulaic performances with Al Di Meola that were to follow, where they started playing to the crowd (Al, specificaly, being the most guilty, with every rendition of the supposedly highly improvised "Short tales" being almost exactly the same every night!).
Paco seems somewhat nervous at first, but here you begin to see the roots forming of a magical musical affinity that John and Paco share to this day. Paco's solo's and interaction with John are also truly beautiful to watch.
The big performance disappointment of this recording is Larry, who is clearly technically challenged and, possibly, chemically so; several missed cues seemed to have irritated Paco and John. He also cannot play at this level and instead "fakes" it, with very predictable results. However, his highly composed solos do provide an interesting be-bop influenced contrast in their renditions of "Black Orpheus" and "Guardian Angel".
However, John's playing is some of the very best I've ever heard, and I've been seeing him in concert since 1978. He was at the peak of his Shakti-period powers and his playing at this period was, for me, the best mix of fiery rock, exotic classical Indian and harder Jazz influences. His work was to take a more mellow turn from here.
Despite the quality issues, if its the performance you're interested in, then this is one of John's finest and, therefore, a required addition to any fan's collection.
For those of you who value production above any true musical passion or content, the extreme opposite would be the Strunz and Farah DVD; I know which one I'd prefer.
Rating:
Summary: My DVD Copy is of Good Quality
Review: Needless to say, the performance is impeccable. A Must own for John's disciples. I don't know about the others, the quality of my DVD copy is pretty good. Considering the low price, it is also better to own the DVD version. Buy it from a store, if you find something wrong, then exchange for another copy.
Rating: 
Summary: DISAPPOINTED
Review: SAW THIS ON CABLE YEARS AGO. RECORDED IT FROM THE TV DIRECTLY
TO A CHEAP CASSETTE RECORDER VIA ITS BUILT IN MIC.I AM A HUGE FAN OF ALL THREE AND PROBALY FANATICAL IN REGARDS TO JOHN. THE AUDIO IS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE LOW PITCHED HUM IN THE BACKGROUND.
I PREFER MY VHS COPY THAT WAS TRANFERRED FROM A JAPANESE LASER DISC. MY THREE STARS ARE FOR THE PERFORMANCE ITSELF. VERY NICE
THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY MY FAVORITE CONTEXT FOR THESE GUYS TO PERFORM IN. I ENJOYED LARRY'S PERFORMANCE MUCH MORE THAN ONE OF THE PREVIOUS REVIEWERS. PACKAGING PRETTY MEDIOCRE TOO. THREE BIG
DREADNOUGHT GUITARS ON COVER (NOT A TYPE GUITAR MUCH ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY OF THESE GUYS). THE PHOTO OF JOHN LOOKS LIKE IT WAS TAKEN OVER A DECADE AFTER THIS RECORDING AND LARRY'S A DECADE PRIOR. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE WILL EVENTUALLY RELEASE THIS WITH
BETTER QUALITY.
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