Rating: 
Summary: all the stars on here!
Review: I have the LP version of this, and it is an absolute joy to hear, but as it would be great to see all these great musicians, jaco, gadd, et al... I really must ask anyone who may have an unwanted copy, or knows of a copy for sale, to post it on this comment board, yours hopefully!
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: I have this on Beta and am frustrated that I can no longer watch it. Please release on DVD! JM is one of the best songsmiths and, paired with Metheny and Pastorius, the concert is a classic. Metheny's solos are magnificent and Joni's stage presence is inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing and magic moment
Review: I think that the communion between those guys made the show something special and unique in time. Pat and Jaco where at a brillant moment, and they found together again, but now with their own personal styles, after some years and records. I don't know if they played together again, anyway, i consider this a relique and give thanks to the one who made it possible, Joni!
Rating:
Summary: The best with the best.
Review: I used to rent Joni's "Shadows and Light" from the video store and I was so impressed by the passion each musician gave to their craft that I purchased the rental. 7 years would pass. I then found it on laserdisc while on tour in Japan with guitarist Lee Ritenour. This is a viewing treasure that I will keep forever.
Rating:
Summary: masterpiece
Review: I've owned this on vinyl and cd for years now I got the DVD. Joni with a bunch of crack musisians, great great music.
Made me contemplate, what is a masterpiece? Something that defies labels and its own time? Something that stands its ground in 10, 20, 50 years after its release, probably.
I'm thinking of The Band's first two albums, certainly some of Dylan's.
This is another one.
Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive 70s jazz-rock superstar video
Review: It is bizarre that this video, and the accompanying CD, has always been unavailable in the UK, except on import. Joni Mitchell has always had a strong following in Britain, particularly as she recorded several of her early albums in London.To my mind, Joni Mitchell is poorly served on CD. Her albums were HDCDed back in 1990, but I'm not sure that the quality of remastering is as good as you can now get. None has appeared on SACD and I've seen just one on DVD-Audio. This is extraordinary for such an important figure in contemporary music. But 'Shadows and Light' is available on DVD, so that those of us with multi-region players can finally see a stellar line-up at the top of their game make the most of Joni's 1970s compositions. I had always wondered what the movie dialogue excerpt was for at the start of the CD. The DVD at least provides a visual explanation. For fans of Pat Metheny, this DVD provides some of the earliest evidence of his brilliant career-long partnership with Lyle Mays. Pat and Lyle even plays one or two riffs from his 'Pat Metheny Group' LP inside the concert performance of 'In France they Kiss on Main Street'. But Pat was playing with Jaco Pastorius before he met Lyle, and, with hindsight, there is something tragic in Jaco's demeanour here. By 1979 he was near the end of his time with Weather Report, and here he looks world-weary, if not slightly wrecked. But, apart from his solo spot, his performance is wonderfully restrained yet intensely musical. His solo is pretty much the one he used to inflict on Weather Report audiences, though thankfully much shorter. [I only saw him twice in concert.] Metheny's playing is impressive, but his guitar skills have reached even loftier heights since those pre-Synclavier days. To me, the real star of this concert is Joni's voice, which gives a faultless, studio-quality performance. In fact, the recording of the entire band is crystal-clear, wih plenty of separation between all instruments except, at times, between Joni's and Pat's guitars. My main complaints about the DVD are: 1. Terrible font used for the credits (but these were very early days for computer graphics). 2. Tracks that are on the CD that are missing from the DVD. (No 'Woodstock' and no 'God must be a boogie man', for example.) I can understand that there are restrictions on the length of videotape, but this is DVD, for goodness sake. At this stage, there seems no point in mentioning that there are a further three tracks missing from the CD that were on the original double LP!) 3. Poor choice of camera shots during the concert. For example, as soon as Jaco starts his solo, we want to see him -- we don't want yet another tedious scan of the Santa Barbara audience. (My guess is that the hired cameramen knew nothing of Joni's music.) But, these minor gripes aside, this is definitely a five-star concert. The fortunes of the various participants would take opposite courses over the next decade. In 1979, Pat was on the brink of superstardom. Jaco was arguably past his peak, although still several years from his period of rapid decline, which culminated in drugs problems, street fights, the loss of an arm, and his death. Joni in 1979 was perhaps at her peak, and this DVD is testament to her enduring talents, superb voice and wonderful compositions. If she'd chosen to play 'Shades of Scarlett Conquering', I would have awarded this DVD six stars.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive 70s jazz-rock superstar video
Review: It is bizarre that this video, and the accompanying CD, has always been unavailable in the UK, except on import. Joni Mitchell has always had a strong following in Britain, particularly as she recorded several of her early albums in London. To my mind, Joni Mitchell is poorly served on CD. Her albums were HDCDed back in 1990, but I'm not sure that the quality of remastering is as good as you can now get. None has appeared on SACD and I've seen just one on DVD-Audio. This is extraordinary for such an important figure in contemporary music. But 'Shadows and Light' is available on DVD, so that those of us with multi-region players can finally see a stellar line-up at the top of their game make the most of Joni's 1970s compositions. I had always wondered what the movie dialogue excerpt was for at the start of the CD. The DVD at least provides a visual explanation. For fans of Pat Metheny, this DVD provides some of the earliest evidence of his brilliant career-long partnership with Lyle Mays. Pat and Lyle even plays one or two riffs from his 'Pat Metheny Group' LP inside the concert performance of 'In France they Kiss on Main Street'. But Pat was playing with Jaco Pastorius before he met Lyle, and, with hindsight, there is something tragic in Jaco's demeanour here. By 1979 he was near the end of his time with Weather Report, and here he looks world-weary, if not slightly wrecked. But, apart from his solo spot, his performance is wonderfully restrained yet intensely musical. His solo is pretty much the one he used to inflict on Weather Report audiences, though thankfully much shorter. [I only saw him twice in concert.] Metheny's playing is impressive, but his guitar skills have reached even loftier heights since those pre-Synclavier days. To me, the real star of this concert is Joni's voice, which gives a faultless, studio-quality performance. In fact, the recording of the entire band is crystal-clear, wih plenty of separation between all instruments except, at times, between Joni's and Pat's guitars. My main complaints about the DVD are: 1. Terrible font used for the credits (but these were very early days for computer graphics). 2. Tracks that are on the CD that are missing from the DVD. (No 'Woodstock' and no 'God must be a boogie man', for example.) I can understand that there are restrictions on the length of videotape, but this is DVD, for goodness sake. At this stage, there seems no point in mentioning that there are a further three tracks missing from the CD that were on the original double LP!) 3. Poor choice of camera shots during the concert. For example, as soon as Jaco starts his solo, we want to see him -- we don't want yet another tedious scan of the Santa Barbara audience. (My guess is that the hired cameramen knew nothing of Joni's music.) But, these minor gripes aside, this is definitely a five-star concert. The fortunes of the various participants would take opposite courses over the next decade. In 1979, Pat was on the brink of superstardom. Jaco was arguably past his peak, although still several years from his period of rapid decline, which culminated in drugs problems, street fights, the loss of an arm, and his death. Joni in 1979 was perhaps at her peak, and this DVD is testament to her enduring talents, superb voice and wonderful compositions. If she'd chosen to play 'Shades of Scarlett Conquering', I would have awarded this DVD six stars.
Rating: 
Summary: mmm....well....the music is exceptional
Review: It was with great anticipation that I purchased this DVD. I have owned and loved the album (then CD) for years. What a stunning back up band Joni had for this concert! Being able to assemble this band is a testament to Joni's talent. Since I could not "be there" I was wildly excited to find out this amazing performance could be found on DVD. While, as I said in my title that the music is exceptional, I was truly disappointed with the selection of video shots. I admit that I am a big Jaco fan, which could be the cause of my displeasure. His playing is such an integral part of these songs and he is rarely seen! Granted, he is seen for his solo, but his playing in many of the other songs is absolutely amazing, but primarily off camera. The band shots are mostly mugs of Joni. She too is a stunning talent and it is "her" gig. But to slight the other band members to the extent that occurs here is unfortunate. The most frustrating example is that during the song Hejira, the band is not shown for a single second! I had to watch a freaking ice skater that whole time! Yikes! I did not buy this DVD to see an "artistic" view of the songs, I bought it to see the amazing band "play" the songs. I can listen to the CD and conjur up my own mental images. I don't know...maybe I'm overreacting.
Rating:
Summary: Great show. Joni at her best.
Review: It's a great great concert. I have nothing to complain. But Joni's fans don't be sad cos I just found out the DVD version of the show has been listed on eBay. Cheers.
Rating:
Summary: Incredable
Review: Joni and Jaco alone is an amazing combination, the rest of the band make this one of the most amazing concert videos I've ever seen. She's an angel. You will watch this DVD everyday, and hear something new and beautiful everytime.
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