New Morning 25th Anniversary DVD Set:
1981 – 2006 (MVD/Inakustik)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: D Compilation: B
You would
never know it from all the newer DVDs of material of the series we have covered
to date, many of which were disappointments technically and in content, but the
New Morning series, now celebrating a quarter century with the new 2-DVD 25th Anniversary DVD Set: 1981 –
2006. The first disc spans 1994 –
2001, barely covering the missing years, but offering better performances by
the Archie Shepp Band, Ray Brown Trio, Gil Scott-Heron and Robben Ford Band
than the second DVD, with lesser known acts and a few known ones (Billy Cobham Culture Mix) repeating
some tracks previously issued.
Billie Holiday on the back of the case might give you the impression she
is here, despite dying long before 1981, but that is typical of this set, which
should offer much more background info for its 240 minutes, extras and a
booklet, none of which are here. For
what is here, the music is good, but even in celebrating an anniversary, seems
to come up short.
The
various aspect ratios for the clips are good, but vary in image quality
throughout. Though DTS 5.1 and Dolby
Digital 5.1 are offered, the PCM 2.0 16/48 Stereo often sounds best and many of
the older recordings show their age, though we have (as we had with many
previous DVD releases in the series) disappointment with the 5.1 mixes to begin
with. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
