Rating: Summary: "AYGWM" not in its entirety Review: It's a great concert. I saw it live in Hong Kong. Mo_Native was right, the track "AYGWM" only included the prelude - a big let down.
Rating: Summary: A Disappointed Long Time Fan...AYGWM? IS incomplete Review: Like the Speaking of Now album, this DVD is a mediocre effort by a heretofore outstanding unit. With regards to the listing of track 12 as Are You Going With Me?: What masquerades as Are You Going With Me?, on the DVD, is only the three and a half minute intro of the 12 minute plus composition of AYGWM? played on the North American and European Tours. The DVD offering is a combination of Into the Dream with Metheny on Pikasso guitar and the melody of AYGWM? performed by Cuong Vu on trumpet. A full blown and majestic presentation of AYGWM? was the highlight of a bland tour of the States and Europe. It deserved a far better presentation than the one offered on this DVD.
Rating: Summary: I give up. Review: OK....Alright.....I give...Uncle. I have tried my level best not to be drawn in. I have hunted in vain for something trite or poorly played; I have put this DVD on and tried to do useful work while it was running, but I have failed. I can no longer deny the truth: I am a convert. I am blown away. This is the most inventive pap I have ever heard. This band has taken all the bad crapola out there, the mindless wandering of new age noodling, the Kenny G warm milk, the neo-disco fusion funk failures, and a few other equally useless attempts at music and has given it direction, development and substance. Mind you, I still find that other stuff BORING, but this has made a silk purse out of a sows ear! I'm a sucker for sambas; yeah, that's it. Or maybe it's that these guys are MUSICIANS...Some day Pat and Stevie Ray are gonna jam together, and I'm gonna be a good boy, because I want to be there. This is a TIGHT band!!! It's a wonderful example of the whole being more than the sum of its parts. Lyle Mays can play piano for me any time. It's no wonder Pat has stayed with him...they play as one. I'd love to hear him play Debussy and Ravel. The DVD really adds to the enjoyment. My favorites: today, "The Roots of Coincidence" and "Song for Bilbao". Tomorrow I might choose something else. Bottom line: I haven't been very productive this week.
Rating: Summary: A Surround Sound Spectacular: A Great DVD Recording Review: One morning at my work, I inserted this DVD into a surround system. The concert began and my boss, my coworkers, and customers loved the performance alike. The audio was recorded really well on this DVD (DTS Surround Out), and what is amazing is as the video pans in and out on the musicians the sound is so clear and discrete. What I love also about this DVD is the Video "photography". The Director of Photography focuses on the musicians, not the crowd as it would be for a Pop Artist. And what a respectable mature crowd to perform for and record a concert. I have used this DVD to demonstrate Audio and Video Equipment for customers, and they ask "Who is that artist? Is that Pat Metheny? That sounds great." This is a great DVD to have for yourself, for a party in your home or as background music at home. This was recorded much better than "We Live Here" DVD Live. This DVD demonstrates the "height" of what an AUDIO/VIDEO surround system can do for you at home, great discrete sound and entertaining video, a must have. My boss wanted me to "pirate" this DVD and distribute amongst my coworkers but I told him no, you can't pirate the genius of Pat Metheny and his crew (management, band members, technicians, etc.). Mr. Metheny earns every penny and this should be owned by any Pat Metheny fan or anyone who enjoys "smooth" music.
Rating: Summary: Amazed Review: Pat Metheny is awesome! This DVD is a must have for all PMG fans. Aside from the fantastic audio, there are great zooms of Pat's incredible finger work. Richard Bona's solo is superb. I went to this concert twice in two days - this DVD will show you why.
Rating: Summary: Now THIS Is How To Do A Concert DVD!!!! Review: Prepare ye for a complex, multi-layered and appealingly melodious concert experience as you witness Pat Metheny and his able accomplices spin musical yarns that are as complex, varied and diverse as Creation itself!!
Musically, this is some of Pat's most diverse and challenging music on display here, from a jazz-bossa-nova like "How Insensitive" to the whacked left-of-center avant-garde sensibilities of "Scrap Metal" and the tear-jerkingly beautiful "Map Of The World/In Her Family", you'll be spellbound amd amazed by how these musicians make playing such dense, complex music look and sound so effortless!
Visually, the excellence matches the music, with ALL the musicians getting generous screentime. Pat himself is a bundle of energy who paces himself well, and only speaks when absolutely necessary, he's more the type to let the music do the talking.
Highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: Outstanding Performamce--A Must Have Review: Re: Brian Carroll's review--He has to be kidding and no I'm not a "recently-converted fans who suddenly think htis Group is the latest thing since sliced bread, and don't have the frame of reference of his and Group's earlier works"--Did he watch the same DVD I own??--I've been following Pat's music since I first saw him play in Gary Burton's band in 1976 and this is great.The new players bring new sounds and their own unique abilities to the band.Just thought I'd weigh in again with a differing opinion.
Rating: Summary: Outstanding Performamce--A Must Have Review: Re: Brian Carroll's review--He has to be kidding and no I'm not a "recently-converted fans who suddenly think htis Group is the latest thing since sliced bread, and don't have the frame of reference of his and Group's earlier works"--Did he watch the same DVD I own??--I've been following Pat's music since I first saw him play in Gary Burton's band in 1976 and this is great.The new players bring new sounds and their own unique abilities to the band.Just thought I'd weigh in again with a differing opinion.
Rating: Summary: Great DVD--counterpoint to rogert678 Review: Richard Bona's spotlight a blemish?--I saw the tour and it was one of the highlights of the show when Pat Methney ,Richard Bona and Antonio Sanchez played "Bright Size Life".Editing decisions are made when an artist decides to release a video (Unless they want to release the entire concert) and the only reason I'm not more dissapointed that this piece wasn't included is that it WAS included on the Austin City Limits show last year.Yes Bona is influenced by Jaco (as most electric bassist are),but he's not doing a Jaco imitation.He's very much his own player.I think one of the most terrific talents on the instrument in the world.Buy this DVD in spite of the omission.!!!!
Rating: Summary: Great DVD--counterpoint to rogert678 Review: Richard Bona's spotlight a blemish?--I saw the tour and it was one of the highlights of the show when Pat Methney ,Richard Bona and Antonio Sanchez played "Bright Size Life".Editing decisions are made when an artist decides to release a video (Unless they want to release the entire concert) and the only reason I'm not more dissapointed that this piece wasn't included is that it WAS included on the Austin City Limits show last year.Yes Bona is influenced by Jaco (as most electric bassist are),but he's not doing a Jaco imitation.He's very much his own player.I think one of the most terrific talents on the instrument in the world.Buy this DVD in spite of the omission.!!!!
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