Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown – Ohne Filter concert
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Concert: C+
Taped on November 9th, 1995, the Clarence
“Gatemouth” Brown performance on the great German music TV series Ohne
Filter is a mixed bag. The Blues legend
gives us 10 songs that are in the most soulful of Blues traditions. Though not a fan of the Blues, even non-fans
can appreciate the history and strength of the material. The performances are not bad and Brown is
still in very viable form. The songs
are:
1) Bits
& Pieces
2) There
You Are
3) Early In
The Morning
4) Take The
A-Train
5) Long Way
Home
6) Honky
Tonk
7) C. Jam
Blues
8) Stop
Time
9) Born In
Louisiana
10) Mojo Workin’
Despite staying in one corner of Blues, i.e., a more
R&B styled set, the songs feel more diverse overall and not a stereotype of
Blues. The songs do not feel like the
same song in 10 versions. Brown still
has some voice left, which is good and has the weathered vocals you come to
expect from someone involved in the genre.
Though not a spectacular concert and limited to under one hour, Blues
fans should enjoy this one for the most part.
The full
frame PAL color video is about what would expect for a taping of the time,
having the usual limits in its good color and limited definition. The sound is available in the usual PCM
CD-type 2.0 16bit/48kHz Stereo, as well as a slightly better Dolby Digital 5.1
AC-3, which plays better all around.
Sadly, this is smaller than usual and the Dolby sounds a bit more
compressed than usual. There is not the
depth in the 5.1 here heard in the Mark King, Tony Joe White or even the band
America’s DVD from the series, all reviewed elsewhere on this site. Besides repeating the same stereo cords ad
placement, other DVDs in the series, and Ohne
Filter producer interview, it has a biography of the band and comes from a
Blues legend. It is a good entry, if
not the best and fares well enough for an artist who has been performing for
over half a century.
- Nicholas Sheffo
