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Rating: 
Summary: Actually 4 and 1/2 stars......
Review: Great concert, its extra special just to be able to sit in the
music room and listen and watch the one and only Joan Armatrading LIVE. I saw the show(reviewed on the CD of this
same show)in Boston last year. Having seen Joan many times as
she made her way through the BOSTON area shes never the same.
Whatever music or band she tours with is alway top shelf and
this threesome play well together. Its to bad the camera work
could have been more restrained at times but its a nice DVD to
finally have. My favorites "Kissin and a Huggin", "The weakness in me", "Everyday boy", "Willow" so many highlights.
Rating:
Summary: 10 for the music, 1 for the video quality
Review: Having seen Joan Armatrading live a number of years ago in Oxford (UK) I was really pleased to see a rare DVD of her concert appear.
As expected the music is excellent but the whole experience is marred for me by a number of flaws in the video quality:
1) It is very dark - obviously no lighting concession was made for the fact it was being filmed and consequently a lot of it is either harshly lit (washed out) or very dark and grainy.
2) There is far to much swapping shots for me - I begin to feel dizzy after a while. Also some of the shots appear distorted as Joan changes shape between camera angles!
3) Some of the camera men appear to be filming on handheld camcorders and have a zoom fetish - or else they were drunk! Unfortunately they seem incapable of pointing at the subject and operating the zoom at the same time consequently there is a lot of footage of random bits of Joan, the floor, the crowd, looking out of the window - none of which was intentional as far as I can see and appears very amateurish.
4) There are film/sound cuts between songs (including cutting off Joan talking to the audience at one point) which disrupts the performance and makes it all feel very disjointed.
What a shame such a good perfromance was spoiled by a pretty incompetant film crew!!
I read other reviews on here before I bought it and can only assume that since most reviewers saw this concert (or one of the series) that it brings back fond memories. As an intro to Joan live (if you can't get there in person) unfortunately this is about all there is but I'm not sure I would be convinced if I hadn't seen her before and been a fan for years.
Rating: 
Summary: Saw the concert, not the DVD...but
Review: I saw the concert from last year's tour at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC. The performance, was, as usual, fantastic and Ms. Armatrading engaged the audience with her music and her wit. I am sure that this DVD will capture the same. During one song, she broke not 1, not 2 but 3 guitar strings and continued the song as if nothing had happened! An amazing performance from a favorite artist. Durham loves Joan Armatrading and I think that she knows that now.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!.....JOAN.... LIVE on DVD!!
Review: I saw this international musical Legend during her 2003 USA tour at the Garden Theater at the Montlavo Winery---That performance was a stunner!
The audience was in a frenzy and Joan with her 2 Band mates seemed to be soaking it all in!This DVD is that and more!
I feel so fortunate to have a DVD that captures that wonderful and unique memory! Thanks Joan! and come back soon!!!
Rating:
Summary: Exceedingly high quality recording of a unique talent
Review: Joan Armatrading has a consistent thirty-year record of creating thoughtful and evocative songs set to her virtuoso guitar. This recording is a sheer delight: bliss from a musical genius. Musical trends come and go but sparingly few artists are capable of creating music that endures. Centuries from now people will still be listening to Beethoven and Mozart and Joan Armatrading. With this DVD they will be able to see her and experience the magic of her live performance too. Beautiful. Thank you, Joan.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: This is really a beautifull dvd, and... it's region free. Now waiting for elder recordings (1975 - 1985).
Rating:
Summary: I was there! It was stunning.
Review: Wow. I wonder if you can see me on this DVD! I can tell you that this concert is the most exhilerating show that I've ever attended and I'm sure this captures Joan Armatrading's masterful folk/rock/soul/reggae/jazz brilliance in some form, and for that it is simply essential.
To "B4inSF:" this IS the Montalvo concert!! You were there (as was I). Rejoice!
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