Search - Paul Simon And Friends: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on DVD

Great Looking and sounding Blue Ray

Peter Neski | New York, NY United States | 07/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I Only wish that last Live Simon and Garfunkel Video,was anywhere

near this for Picture and sound,This is one of the best Blue Rays I own

in terms of Picture(video that is)"

Eclectic and exhilarating.....a gust of fresh air

Chhan Thuan Kiat | Brunei Darussalam | 07/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Firstly, a tiny caveat; Paul Simon, the recipient of the Gershwin Prize for popular Song isn't the main performer in this High Definition concert disc, his very talented friends are. Yes Simon does appear live but only in the last 5 songs (plus 3 notable clips from the past).

But what friends these are ! Culturally and stylistically diverse, they rock the evening with exuberant performances of his songs and just about blow the enraptured audience away. Lyle Lovett starts proceedings with his typical laid back vocals in 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover followed by a countrified Boxer ala Alison Kraus and Jeremy Douglas, different but quite enjoyable. The South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing Homeless and what a revelation they are--smooth a capella singing with infectious charm and boundless energy. The soloists who really grabbed my attention have to be James Taylor whose easy going Slip Slidin Away and haunting Still Crazy After All These Years greatly impress and Marc Anthony with a soulful El Condor Pasa and a high -octane Late In The Evening which nearly steals the evening. Great stuff.

In no small measure, the evening's success may be credited to the fantastic back up Band, whose pounding percussion, pulsing guitars and thumping bass propell the aural excitement to fever pitch. And what a glorious Audio recording they are accorded in this Blu Ray disc. Play this one through a proper 5.1 speaker set -up via suitable electronics, pump up the volume and the Dolby TrueHD will give you goose-bumps....it is that good. Listen, for example to the band upping the tempo when Paul Simon duets with Stevie Wonder in a foot-stomping rendition of Me And Julio By The Schoolyard. As if that isn't enough adrenaline, in the next act, Simon, Wonder, the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Band work up a veritable storm with Loves Me Like A Rock. What a blast!

Yes, Paul we love you, all is groovy."