Diana Krall - Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival

Rating:
Summary: Not Just THE GIRL, More Like the Woman (i.e. the DK we know)
Review: As most Diana Krall fans are aware, her last several studio CDs have branched out musically from her 1990s-vintage albums (where she concentrated on classic pop standards). In my opinion these shifts in focus have been aesthetically successful, but I realize from reading the amazon reviews that some fans have been left uncomfortable by her moves first into orchestrated bossa jazz (THE LOOK OF LOVE), then most recently into often self-penned contemporary material (THE GIRL IN THE OTHER ROOM).

Those who've supported Diana's changes probably don't need a review to know that this DVD is a must-have, as is her last concert video LIVE IN PARIS. The sound quality is excellent (including 5.1 surround option), camera angles very good, and her performance is consistently strong, with more mature vocals and more adventurous piano solos. On MONTREAL she is accompianed by bass, guitar, and drums throughout (unlike the Paris concert, which has some orchestrated tunes). Also, I greatly admire that she stays in the present tense (so to speak), focusing on recent tunes: 9 of the 12 songs on this DVD are fom her newest album. While I thought highly of the studio versions, in a live setting the new material sounds even fresher, with fluid, emotive performances by Diana and her band.

Those who were disappointed with THE GIRL... album just might want to check out this video for a different view of the new material. That studio album for better or worse seemed like a significant move away from her established classic jazz sound (a shift which I thought highly of but you may not agree). Yet on this DVD her performances of those same tunes seem to have found considerable common ground with Diana's jazz-based music that brought her fame back in the late-1990s, and fit like a glove next to the three standards that are mixed in with the new songs here. The flow from Diana's past to her present in my opinion is much more seamless than you might expect based on the studio versions. Not all the skeptics will be back in Diana's corner, but I believe quite a few will be (just as some critics of THE LOOK OF LOVE wound up embracing the subsequent LIVE IN PARIS video).

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Being a musician myself I am critical of the recording quality of what I listen to. I must say that Live in Montreal is one of the nicest live recordings I have heard in some time. Diana's piano work is exceptional and the performance rendered by Anthony Wilson on guitar is show stealing. If you have a high end sound system or a high end appreciation for well played and recorded music this DVD is a must have for your collection.

Rating:
Summary: DK and co. once again show the highest level of music.....
Review: Diana Krall live at the very very famous Montreal Jazz Festival, still with the almighty Anthony Wilson on guitar, but this time on bass is Robert Hurst, and Peter Erskine on drum, two of the most renowned players in jazz scene. Seeing Diana Krall and Co. play is like attending a great jazz music workshop, they show very strong understanding of different kind of jazz music, and improvise them,

the opening track "Sometimes I Just Freak Out" combine standard swing to more uptempo "bebop"-ish groove, the transition is so smooth. "Devil May Care" show how Erskine and Hurst manage the super fast bop groove with ease. the bluesy "Love Me Like A Man", and sentimental "Departure Bay" made the finale of the show. And with Elvis Costello co-writing tunes, i found that the melodies become more smooth and easy-listening, but that became a interesting blend with Krall master piano works, and great solos are all over the place, like Hurst and Erskine blaze over "East of the Sun" and "Devil May Care", the improvisation of Wilson and Krall on "Stop this World" is just jaw-dropping as well.

GET THIS!! If you are interested in jazz music and jazz vocal and solo stuff you'll like this one, this DVD highlights one of the most impotant moments of the Montreal Jazz Fest 2004, as well as Krall's music journey, though this might not be typically "Krall"-ish style of music for the sake of the co-writer Costello, but it doesn't affect the quality of music thru out, check it out!!!

Rating:
Summary: Diana Krall Changing For The Better
Review: I just got done watching this DVD and I was very impressed with the entire show. What struck me right from the start was the shift from singer/pianist to pianist/singer of Krall. The focus seems to be on this very tight group and their musicianship. Anthony Wilson (guitar), Robert Hurst (bass) and the great drummer Peter Erskine are wonderful together. Krall sheds the lounge singer in coctail dress who sings "stanrdards" to a musician who is also a singer who appears to be presenting herself as she really would like to be viewed. Maybe for the first time we are getting the see the real Diana Krall and I like the change. I enjoyed the "Live in Paris" DVD but I liked this one better. I liked the old Diana Krall but I love the new one. I highly recommend this DVD!

Rating:
Summary: DISAPPOINTING
Review: I know I'm in a minority, but though I'm a big fan of Krall, Wilson and Erskine , I found this release disappointing and inferior to the sublime Paris concert. Not because of the material--which is ok- but because of the production and performance. The former is spoilt by silly camera hyperactivity and a less than great sound quality.Regarding the performance, Krall seems to go for technique too often rather than content--and her vocals are sometimes tired sounding with intonation lapses.Wilson has his moments,but I prefer the sound of the older instrument he used in Paris.Hurst has plenty of chops but seems bored for some of the time and frankly the Hurst/Erskine axis doesn't swing as much as the Clayton/Hamilton pairing. (Compare their respective versions of All or Nothing and East of the Sun) Notwithstanding the above, I'll still eagerly await DKs next project...

Rating:
Summary: Diana Krall-Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival
Review: I love Diana Krall and own every CD, VHS, and DVD she ever made BUT, this one is not up to her usual standards. Very boreing and found myself 'fast forwarding' to find something of interest. Sorry Diana. But will be looking forward to your next try.

Rating:
Summary: How it's suppose to be.....
Review: It doesn't get much better - a wonderful performance captured on video with an accurate and well recorded audio track. You can hear (and see) the interplay between a jazz quartet at the peak of their craft. I didn't think Diana could get much better - but she constantly surprises me. And Anthony Wilson on guitar? Well, if he's not at the head of the line for guitar players - he's REAL close. Robert Hurst (drums) and Peter Erskine (drums) round out the quartet - they hold their own as Anthony and Diana twist and turn through inventive and entertaining arrangements. WOW!

Rating:
Summary: Live at Montreal Jazz Festival
Review: Liked this concert better than Live in Paris although it is a bit different. A little less up tempo content and fewer tracks overall. Very impressed with both the audio and video quality - this is one of the best music DVD's I have.

Not just one for the Krall fans, this is a really good concert.

Rating:
Summary: Get Back To the Old Goodies
Review: This CD stinks Diana is at her best doing the old evergreens like on "The Look of Love" and "live in Paris".

Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: Two days ago i exoperienced Diana Krall live in Prague. The show was excellent despite the place (hockey arena which was really cold and the sound could be stronger for people far from the stage) and DK's cold (she joked about it actualy, it was very nice, very spontaneous).

Two days later DVD ordered form Amazon came to me so i could compare the Prague show with the one recorded (in another sports arena). If i had to choose between attending the live show and buying the DVD, i would go for the DVD for few reasons:

1, the sound and DK's voice - experiencing it live is a thing to remember and relish, but in Prague it was flawed by the things mentioned above, performance on this DVD is flawless! The sound could be more "raw" but thats only thing i cn think of.

2, intimacy - you will get more intimate feeling watching the DVD in your apartement with a glass of wine or whiskey than in a cold sports arena. Unless you are lucky enough to get tickets fr firts few rows.

3, replayability - this DK in her best you can re-experience anyitme you wish.... and the DVD price is so low my postzage was almost bigger part of the money i had to pay for it - yet worth every cent.

so if you like Diana Krall and/or can appreciate the musicianship of Anthony Wilson, Peter Erskine and Robert Hurts, you have no choice but the get this DVD and enjoy it. It is pure joy indeed.