 List Price: $14.98
Lowest Price: $7.48 
Amazon.com: Sensitive singer-songwriter, soft-rock poster boy, boomer troubadour: James Taylor has outlived the stereotypes offered by fans and critics alike by simply staying his musical course and continuing to refine his familiar, deceptively mellifluous style. This 1998 concert displays Taylor's craftsmanship and easy rapport with both his band and his audience to satisfying effect, offering a repertoire that draws from his entire career while providing a generous selection of songs from his Grammy-winning 1997 set, Hourglass. Fans will love it, of course, but even jaded listeners can find fresh feeling and formidable expertise here. By now, Taylor's skill at low-key love songs is a given, making him an archetypal "sensitive New Age guy" on the strength of his canny mix of emotional vulnerability, romantic imagery, and understated delivery. Less obviously, Taylor has gradually transformed the shadows of disillusionment audible in his earliest songs into a nuanced acknowledgment of his own age. "Line 'Em Up," from Hourglass, typifies his skill at limning disarmingly lucid, frankly philosophical vignettes, here woven around a recollection of Richard Nixon's last hurrah, while "Jump Up Behind Me" affords a testament to self-determination ultimately as serious in theme as it is buoyant in its musical framework. Throughout, Taylor's stage band proves a thoroughbred, its accompaniment rock solid and delicately detailed, and perfectly matched to a crack backing chorus. Among the first video concerts produced with DVD in mind, Live at the Beacon Theatre has been in heavy rotation in home demonstration suites ever since its release, an achievement understandable after hearing the crystalline 5.1 mix engineered by Frank Filipetti, who shared a Grammy as coproducer on Hourglass and snagged a second award for his engineering of that album. --Sam Sutherland Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-02
James Taylor and his Killer band!!
James Taylor and his absolutely KILLER Band tear the roof off of the Beacon Theatre in NYC. Not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination. What is even more incredible is the fact that longtime JT drummer Carlos Vega, committed suicide the week before this show was taped. Carlos was an incredible talent and may he rest in peace. JT called on an old friend who was definitely up for the task of learning the 30+ song set. Mr. Steve Jordan does a marvelous job with all of JT's classics as well as his newer material. His band is top notch as well! Buy this DVD, you won't be dissappointed!!! Rating: 
Date: 2008-03-12
frustrating to watch
I love James Taylor and am a long time fan of his songwriting and guitar playing. The sound on this dvd is excellent and James voice is at his best. However, in spite of all the negative reviews posted on this website regarding this dvd, I went against the grain and purchased it. I can honestly say that it was a bit frustrating to watch because of the quick changes in the camera angles. It made me dizzy. You can actually count the beats, (no more than 4-8 beats to be exact) before the next camera shot. Think and imagine this happening before you decide to purchase. Since I can't get a refund, I'm glad it didn't cost much. His band and back up singers gets equal camera time on this one. On another note, I just saw his One Man Band dvd on PBS and for those of you interested in picking up a few tips on his guitar playing, this is a good one. It also includes a lighthearted side of James (I never really heard him talk this much) and it was a pleasure watching it and getting to know a more personal side of this great artist. By the way...there is only one (1) JT..can somebody let that Timberlake guy know. Rating:
Date: 2008-02-09
James Taylor
Simply one of the best liverecordings I have ever been looking at and listening to - the sound is fantastic in Dolby 5.1
Rating:
Date: 2007-12-23
We watch this dvd all the time
My wife and I watch this dvd all the time, and just love the background vocal talent he brought along for the taping of this DVD. The sound quality sounds great on my surround sound system and the video is sharp... man, James sure does sweat a lot!
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but if you want a James Taylor concert DVD you will enjoy watching repeatedly, this would be the one to buy. Rating: 
Date: 2007-09-10
Could have been better
I am a big JT fan, but, I am sorry to say, I was not blown away by this DVD. The set looks like a leftover from the Dean Martin variety show from the 70's. Weird? The sound is not too bad at all and sounded better to me set to stereo instead of 5.1. But the energy is lacking on most of the songs and the band is not the calibre you might expect for a DVD performance.
Secondly, the video direction and camera work are very busy. I counted 17 cuts in a random one minite period and,the techniques of panning and zooming are exercised to the fullest. All this is distracting to say the least.
But, not all is lost. There is some great music here, but I can't help but wonder why some the songs were selected for the DVD and so many great hits were omitted. There is no bonus footage or interviews.
All in all it adds up to an average JT experience, but an average JT is still worth a look. I'm glad I have it. I give it 3 stars. |
