Jazz Crusaders – The Paris Concert/New Morning (DTS)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B     Extras: D     Concert: B-

 

 

The Soul/Funk combo known as The Jazz Crusaders are in their fifth decade of playing music in long form their way and this new installment of the Paris Concert/New Morning DVD-Video series from Inakustik and Music Video Distributors is a decent concert running nearly two hours.  Taped on November 2002 and joined at points by the formidable vocalist Jean Carne, they play well through the following songs:

 

1)     Stomp & Buck Dance

2)     Eleanor Rigby

3)     Keep That Same Old Feeling

4)     What You Won’t Do For Love/Way Back Home outro

5)     Always There

6)     Street Life

7)     Don’t Let It Go to Your Head

8)     Closer Than Close

9)     Way Back Home finale

 

 

The results are more on than off, but there are times when the band and Miss Carne seem to be out of their element when coming together.  Also, in What You Won’t Do For Love, the band actually does not get the most out of it.  The result of moments like that made me come away with a mixed feeling about this particular taping.  I’m sure it was not the taping, but just the choices made that made this a bit awkward, but the musicianship and some showmanship made up for that.

 

The letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image is nicely shot, which is why it is such a tragedy this was not an anamorphically enhanced DVD.  Color range is good and detail is not bad, but would have been better the other way.  As for the sound, it is here in PCM 2.0 16bit/48kHz Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and a DTS 5.1 mix that is the best option, with a warm, rich presentation that best brings the music home.  There are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo