Kakaku：149 saved$1.49
Eagle Rock Ent
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Good Audio, Lousy Video) 『As a guitarist myself, I love Al Dimeola. Back to his early days with Chick Corea, he has developed into an even more awesome guitarist. I was hoping this DVD would be something I could watch and play again and again. but though the music was immensely enjoyable, the vidography so totally sucked as to completely detract and distract from the music. So little of his playing and fretwork from a constant frontal view, as in watching a concert. Instead, a contant, sometimes rapid and mostly just irritating, cutting from one view to another, mostly from the back, I completely lost insterest and started getting frustrated. What a shame. So much of the awe is in watching him play. So little enjoyment here.』
(Very good album) 『I need some more Albums like... Al De Meola , John Mc Laughlin, Paco De Lucia And Drum Solo by Tony Royster Jr (Album Pure Energy) If you have this kindly quote the Price 』
(Dimeola in Vancouver...) 『In response to my compatriot Donald in Van BC, Sr. Dimeola did happen to visit our city on a couple of occasions during the 90's Once with The Rite of Strings in which... if I'm not mistaken they kicked that tour off here in Van with 'Alma Libre' (Locals) as the backup group. The Trio (ROS) didn't have alot of ironing out to do being the calibure players that they are but they were using sheet music and at one point Al's blew away from him on stage at a critical point in a song.. but he nailed it anyway and the crowd went NUTZ! He was also here earlier in the 90's with his own band at the Commodore again a fabulous show and obviously much more "electrified' than that of the acoustic trio of him Ponty and Clarke. I'm looking forward to checking out these Montreaux DVD's thanks for the reviews.』
(Kung Fu guitar! The most amazing guitar playing ever recorded!) 『The 1986 concert starts out a little rough - they should have edited the intro/sound check and the camera work could be better and the tone is best played through a Surround Sound system. The video is totally clear and there is plenty of fingerwork zoom, though some useless camera angles. Also, here is a more accurate track list: Intro/sound check Orient Blue Vertigo Shadow Atavism of Twilight Enigma of Desire Medley/improv: Untitled (but published in Guitar Player on a floppy record) Soaring Through a Dream (quote) Rhapsody of Fire Etude (quote) Passion, Grace&Fire percussion Cielo e Terra Mediterranean Sundance Encore: Etude Capoeira This music is so unusual it requires an explanation. The 1985 album Cielo e Terra - the basis of this 1986 concert - features compositions inspired by (and titled after) Salvador Dali paintings - so this is 'surreal guitar' - characterized by strange and beautiful chord voicings (not found in any chord dictionary or elsewhere) played with fast, smooth arpeggiation and intricate scalar runs with frequent rhythm and tempo changes. There is copious melodic and percussively rhythmic improvisation throughout. The percussively rhythmic picking is another of His specialties. No one demonstrates such a high level of mastery of the three musical dimensions - harmony, melody and rhythm - intertwined across such a wide range of musical styles all executed with creative improvisation, precision and ever-present grace as Al Di Meola. He's the Bruce Lee of Kung Fu guitar! Bottom-line: Fans: Buy it, of course. Guitarists: required listening/viewing to witness what is possible on the instrument. (See also his lesson video with excerpts mercifully dumbed-down for mere mortals.) Virtuosi (of any instrument): Absolutely worthy addition. General audience: The World Sinfonia concert will be more 'accessible'.』
(Two great Di Meola performances at Montreaux, 86 and 93) 『Don't let the reviews put you off altogether. I would actually rate this as four and a half stars if I could but based on the amount I have enjoyed this release I have few qualms about giving this five. Although there are some flaws, let's look at the positives. These are performances at Montreaux Jazz festivals which make them events in and of themselves. The Montreaux DVD issues all have excellent 5.1 sound as well as DTS at a great price and this one is no exception. Possibly the edits could have focused more on Al's fingers but really there is lots of close ups of his playing and the truth is Jazz is not "visual" the way rock is. Reading some of the reviews I expected to just see his back and face. Both shows are crystal clear. There are the two performances as stated on the packaging. The "missing" third show is just an apparent Amazon error as there is no suggestion of it on the packaging. The first show is of course solo from 86 and Al was touring the Cielo album so of course there is a fair amount of music from that release.I always found these melodies haunting and the playing is of course, flawless. The second show is the World Sinfonia trio with two guitars, percussion and some ethereal vocals, and again is flawless and inspired. I assume some of the others reviewers must have had the fortune of seeing Al many times but I never have in my part of the world (Vancouver B.C) so I am thrilled to have some footage of one of the all time guitar greats. The other Di Meola release "One of These Nights" from 2004 is stunning in it's beauty and of "higher" quality than this but if you are a fan you will surely want and enjoy both. Hats off to Eagle Rock for the care they have seemed to put into all the Montreaux releases. All so far have great visuals, DTS sound as well as informative liner notes including the Montreaux poster art for the year of that particular show. Nice touch folks !』 『This DVD draws on three of Al Di Meola's performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The earliest from 1986 is a solo acoustic performance. The concert from 1989 is by the Super Guitar Trio, which sees Di Meola join forces with fellow guitarists Larry Coryell and Bireli Lagrene. The final concert from 1993 features Di Meola with guitarist Chris Carrington and percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, who also provides vocals on some tracks. This gives a total of over 2 hours of live music.
Track Listing from July 14, 1986: 1. Vertigo Shadow, 2. Orient Blue Suite, 3. Passion, Grace&Fire, 4. Atavism Of Twilight, 5. Enigma Of Desire, 6. Cielo E Terra, 7. Etude, 8. Capoiera. Track Listing from July 17, 1989: 1. PSP No. II, 2. Tango Suite (for two guitars), 3. Orient Blue Suite / Traces Of A Tear, 4. Musette De Paris Avec La Rue Dupierre No. 5, 5. Brazilliance, 6. Waltz, 7. No Mystery, 8. Spain. Track Listing from July 13, 1993: 1. Indigo, 2. No Mystery, 3. Tango Suite.』
Kakaku：200 saved$2.00
BBC / Opus Arte
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Visually Stunning Accompaniment to Holst's 'The Planets') 『After viewing many early DVDs of classical music that didn't show the performers but rather featured generally insipid pastoral or other picturesque scenes that moved slowly across one's screen and bored one to tears, I was prepared to dislike this new DVD that 'illustrates' a performance of Gustav Holst's popular orchestral suite, 'The Planets.' I was extremely surprised and pleased, then, that during this hour-long DVD I never once lost interest in the visuals. My interest, as anyone who has read my other Amazon reviews knows, is classical music, and generally I am more fascinated by the performance in the DVD than by the visuals. This time, though, the main purpose is the visuals and the production's director, Rhodri Huw, succeeded handsomely in putting together an extraordinarily varied filmic collage that aptly fits the tempo and tone of the music.
As you know, Holst's suite features a tone poem for each of the solar system's planets known when he wrote it in 1918. They appear in 'The Planets' in this order: Mars, the Bringer of War; Venus, the Bringer of Peace; Mercury, the Winged Messenger; Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician; and Neptune, the Mystic. Notice that Earth is not included, nor is Pluto, which was not discovered until 12 years after Holst wrote the suite. In this performance by David Atherton and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales a newly written (2000) section, 'Pluto, the Renewer,' written by English composer Colin Matthews, is included as the last movement.
The musical performance is unexceptionable. Atherton is a fine conductor and his orchestral responds alertly and subtly to his direction. We rarely actually see the orchestra in this production and when we do they are generally lit dramatically; mostly we get close-ups of instrumentalists. But by far the preponderant visuals are unendingly fascinating snippets from all over the world, computer-generated graphics, animatronics all mixed and matched in fascinating combinations. There is no real effort to illustrate the planets themselves--how could one, actually, illustrate the planets?--but since Holst appended subtitles for each planet, that is the focus. For instance, for 'Mars, Bringer of War,' we get quick montages of armaments being manufactured, military aircraft, rocket launchers and, towards the end, the faces of victims of war. 'Venus, the Bringer of Peace,' for instance, is illustrated by very quiescent scenes, generally of isolated parts of the earth (is there a message here that the only peaceful places are those barely touched by the hand of man?). 'Mercury, the Winged Messenger,' itself a quirky scherzo, is illustrated almost exclusively by computer-generated images that match the mercurial nature of the music. 'Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,' includes many different scenes of celebration, laughter, and frolic, including some unforgettable scenes from one iteration of the now-famous 'Burning Man' art festival that occurs yearly in the Nevada desert. 'Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age,' seems to follow the growth and development of a boy through childhood, young adulthood, maturity, and senescence. The scenes used to illustrate it are actually quite touching. And so on. I can only reiterate that Huw has chosen extremely apt images, tends not to intercut too quickly or linger too long on each, and he clearly has the tempo and rhythm of the music in mind although there is not a feeling that he slavishly follows these in his filmic rhythms. He must have reviewed literally miles of film to find the scenes he includes.
Matthews 'Pluto', which I'd never heard before, is only slightly more advanced in idiom that Holst's music and it really does sound of a piece with the rest of the suite. He has done a nice job. He recognized that Pluto is the farthest planet from the sun and one hears echoes of Vaughan Williams's icy Antarctica in his orchestration.
All in all, this is a very successful effort and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to find that graphic illustration of music in a DVD is a viable artistic possibility.
Kakaku：998 saved$9.98
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A Review of "The Main Event") 『I have just viewed Thr Roach Approach's The Main Event and found it to be a charming animated story with a biblical theme. Even though it's a child-oriented movie, it is entertaining for adults as well. I strongly recommend it for viewing for the entire family.
August A. Strandberg』
(Forgetable) 『I began watching this DVD (with my three daughters) with a very clear and open mind. I was not expecting "Pixar standards" by any means, but I was hoping for something creatively engaging. Wow... it didn't take long to realize that there was no chance of that happening. This project is just flat. The script is horrible, the director seems under-qualified and the voice talent offers nothing. While certain shots of the characters look well-made (mostly the close-ups due to the lighting/shading), most of the animation is second rate at best. This entire DVD (including the special features) is uninspired, creatively devoid of all life and just plain one- dimensional. Don't waste your money on this one.』
(Splendid!) 『A new twist to the oldest stories are just what is needed to spark the attention of the younger generation. Kids will love these characters obviously created by someone who is genuinely interested in changing the world through love of, and faith in God. Making it fun is part of the attraction! The sweat and attention to detail that went into these products is obvious. The star-level talent contributing to the music package speaks (sings) for itself. Other reviewers with shallow comprehension who can't spell 'hurricane' will fail to see the entertainment value and will selfishly withhold this entertaining teaching tool from children with eager and open minds. I find that offensive.』
(The worst kind of retelling of sacred stories.) 『I'm glad I previewed this before showing it at my church. A child might leave this movie believing that roaches were there in the lion's den helping to mediate between the lions and Daniel. Add a rapping bat with heavy gold jewelry, and the power of the original story is completely lost. I can't in good conscience even pass this on to someone else, as I find it so offensive. It will be in this week's garbage.』 『Squiggz, Cosmo and Flutter venture out on a camping trip with Grandpa Lou to earn merit badges as the Roach Rangers! While journeying through a drainage pipe, Grandpa Lou re-tells the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den and talks about standing up for your beliefs. The Roach Rangers learn the valuable lessons within faith, friendship and promise.
Special guest voice-over and songs from 2005 Dove Award-Winning artists; tobyMac as Fang the Bat and Nicole C. Mullin as Meisha the lion cub.』
Kakaku：346 saved$3.46
Video Artists Int'l
Usually ships in 1 to 2 days IPhone 3G used's review (Absolutely enchanting visit to the past) 『What an enchanting DVD! This is another compilation of the best of the old Bell Telephone Hour. Wonderful singers from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s have their art preserved. This is a lot of fun to listen to.
Some examples:
The great Renata Tebaldi takes on "Vissi d'arte," from "Tosca." This is, as one would expect, elegantly sung by Tebaldi, one of the greatest sopranos of her era. Her rich, smooth voice and her own interpretation provides a poignant version of this piece.
Regina Resnik sings "The Gypsy Song" from "Carmen"--and sings it well. She displays a rich voice; the scene is also well conceived. A nice ensemble work.
Robert Merrill follows in the same episode of "The Bell Telephone Hour" with the "Toreador Song." He was a most dependable baritone, who gave good performances, well sung. The redoubtable Merrill does a very nice turn here.
"Die Fledermaus" is hardly a major piece--but it is a lot of fun! Here, an effervescent scene among Phyllis Curtin, Nicolai Gedda, and Theodor Uppman, the Act I Trio. Simply, great fun! This is an infectious piece as sung by the three principles here. World historically, this is a trifle. But so much fun!
George London and Anna Moffo essay "La ci darem la mano," from Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Their voices blend well together. London is in his prime and sings his character well; Moffo is also in fine voice. Well sung and entertaining.
Anno Moffo sings one of her signature pieces, "Ah, fors e lui. . . Sempre libera" from "La Traviata." In her time, she and Renata Scotto were exemplars singing Violetta. Moffo was a good actress as well as a fine soprano. In this role, Joan Sutherland brought her great technique, but she did not "own" this role as did Scotto or Moffo. All in all, this a richly musical version of this piece.
Finally, Leontyne Price sings "Tacea la notte" from "Il Trovatore." Well sung indeed. What a rich voice she displays! This exemplifies why she was so well regarded in her day.
So, the bottom line? This is a wonderful introduction to opera performers of mid-century for those who are unfamiliar with them. And for old-timers like me, it is a wonderful reminder of the talent pool of the era. 』
(great show) 『Revoir Leontyne Priceà son apogée est un plaisir. Les décors sont rétro, les costumes ahurissants, les maquillages extrèmes, tout cela sent bon le vieux MET, c'est agréable et très vocal, c'est du passé, mais c'est bon d'y retourner pour ne pas oublier combien ces chanteurs furent souvent sublimes.』
(Great Opera Stars of Opera, Vol. 2; telecasts from the bell...) 『Truly a magnificent find for me. The uncomparable Leontyne Price proves over and over that she is, "first among her her peers", a real diva. I'm not surprised she received an unrivaled 42 minute standing ovation at the Met. This record still stands today.
I heard her in person in the 80's in Tennessee and was overwhelmed beyond belief. I waited in line for her autograph and went back several times for additional ones.
Had Leontyne Price not been included (and there was no way possible she could have been excluded) in this dvd I would not have made this purchase. I must add; however, the other sopranos were good and am pleased.
Franco Corelli was magnificent as usual and never a disappointment; Nicolai Gedda, Georgio Tozzi, Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill were fantastic. Also George London, whom I had no knowledge, was good.
Must close but not without saying that I wish Leontyne Price well for she is a true American Treasure.』
(A must for any opera lover!) 『These two DVD's are happy in my collection and are essential to anyone who were lucky enough to see some of these wonderful programs in their living rooms on television. I certainly miss programs as wonderful as these. If you are old enough to remember these singers you have to have these DVD's (volume 1 and 2) if not, you need to have them to see and hear the singers that older people refer to in conversation and in print. All the singers are fun to see and hear again the these are true treasures for any opera lover. Price is priceless! Each performance is a jewel to keep entertaining far into the future. A definite buy!』
(wonderful) 『This is a treasure that I've found that I can't do without. Price was the star here. But check out an even better find... Volumn One... The Great Stars of Opera - Telecasts from the Bell Telephone Hour 1959-1966』
IPhone 3G used's review (Great Album) 『I bought this album when I was fourteen years old. I lost it a few years later, and then bought it again this year, now that I'm 24, after seeing it someplace and feeling nostalgic. I was surprised to find, however, that unlike most of the terrible music I was listening to in high school, this album is amazing. The way the singer's voice floats over the music is lilting and beautiful. The album is consistently good from beginning to end, though the final song is definitely the weakest track. I would highly recommend picking up this album. You can get it used for probably no more than three dollars, and I don't think you will be disappointed. Simply gorgeous rock music.』
(Awesome rock) 『I know this album was released 10 years ago, but the music still rotates through my CD player. Very good music with a unique sound. Very talented vocalist and drummer in this band. The music is creative. I still haven't found a band that can replace this one as far as styles go. They have a darker, depressing, minor sound, to an extent, but the music isn't depressing, overall. Very melodicish and good. Not sure what to say! If you're in to rock, altrock and emo (not screamo) then you most likely will love this album. The music doesn't sound 10 years old. It's great. Buy it!』 『Bloomsday "The Day the Colors Died"
Featuring:
1. The Day The Colors Died
2. Patience
3. Just the same
4. Song of Five
5. Blue Poetry
6. Vitamin
7. Pablo's Diary
8. I Remain Yours
9. Soft
10. Weight』
Kakaku：1698 saved$16.98
Owl Records
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A paint of jazz . By Roberto 22-06-08 Roma (Italia)) 『Colors presents a limpid atmosphere.All compositions of cd are delicate and capture your attention with a round sound.Hight quality of jazz for this trio(piano-drums-bass).』 『Colorsbrings forward the compositional mastery ofSteve Alleein a piano trio setting. Allee toured with theBuddy Rich Orchestrawhen he was 19 years old and regularly performs withRufus Reid, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Bobby Shew, andJim Snidero. He is the music director of nationally syndicated morning radio showThe Bob and Tom Show.Bill MoringandTim Hornerplay regularly withMaria Schneider, Chris Potter, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, andWynton Marsalis.』
Kakaku：998 saved$9.98
Lionsgate / HIT Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (I love the rubberdubbers - 5 year old loved it, 3 year old didn't.) 『The Rubberdubbers is a hard-to-find British preschool slow action series (kinda like claymation) that is occasionally run on the Discovery channel. Finbar is the arrogant but lovable shark and this DVD centers around him. (I think he is very funny.) My 5 year old son was engaged, but my 3 year old daughter did not like it that much - maybe when she is older. I enjoy watching it though, so I'll be optimistic.』 『Finbar™ the Star: Finbar dreams he’s a mighty glamorous movie star. In Director Tubb’s movie, can Finbar rescue Miss Winona from the Might Ferocious Crocodile? Princess Amelia: Amelia wishes she were a fairy tale princess. But when her frog and shark servants worry too much, Amelia doesn’t like being pampered after all. Tubb™ the Frog Prince: Once upon a time, there was a handsome frog prince named Tubb who fought off a bubble-breathing dragon and rescued a princess! Terence the Shopkeeper: Terence imagines he owns a bath shop with bubbles, shampoos and soapy stuff. But will Terence sharehis bath products with his customers? Stone Seeker Sploshy: Sploshy goes underground to collect all the stone in the world! Can she make it back to the surface with her sack full of stones? Approx. Run Time: 120 minutes (including bonus features)』
Kakaku：200 saved$2.00
Hummingbird Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Tells it like it is about Big Pharma) 『You cannot imagine what bravery it took for this DVD to be made. One guest is a former detail man and the producer is former detail woman, now called drug reps. In a PBS documentary style, but with rapid movement between 6 guests, this is the story of overselling drugs, mis-educating physicians, and control of even academic medical research. Even if you are a jaded cynic like me, you will find out some new disgusting angle to the prescription drug business. Here is the place for me to recommend Deadly Medicine by Thomas J. Moore (1995) and any of his other books. And Let Them Eat Prozac by David Healy (2004). And The Trouble with Medical Journals by Richard Smith. And Calculated Risks by Gerd Gigerenzer (2002). 』
(Excellent expose) 『This is an excellent overview of how drug companies will stoop at nothing to show their products in a good light, even if their "cures" are worse than useless and exorbitantly expensive. Two former sales reps explain how the drug companies seduce doctors from the time they're in med school with gifts, trips, etc. Yes, we all know this, but hearing it from people who engaged in these practices makes their methods seem even more odious and manipulative. I especially liked Dr. Hoffman from UCLA whose calm explanations of the business of medicine and modern drug company tactics were excellent and scathing. I wish this DVD was required by all medical schools.』
(much needed.) 『This documentary is very concise, and very straight forward. It does not beat around the bush or preach to the choir. It features interviews with some very credible sources, all of whom have their unique take on such a timely discussion topic. I really enjoyed the way the interviews were woven together. This documentary makes a great point and I'd highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in learning the hard facts about the drug industry and its ethics.』
(No fluff) 『I really enjoyed this documentary and it's lack of fluff. I am warn down by my generation's new over-the-top approach to documentary filmmaking. It is one thing to incorporate a barrage of pop music and rapid editing into a feature, or even a documentary about a band or a spelling bee, but what I really appreciated about this documentary was its refusal to mask the facts with entertaining rhetoric. The film is very blunt and gets to the point. It has something to say, and it says it - clearly. If you are looking for 50 minutes of relevant information that will leave you feeling nothing short of enlightened, this is the documentary for you.』 『The controversial independent film Side Effects raised so many questions about the ethical and societal implications of the marketing practices the pharmaceutical industry, that writer/director Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau felt compelled to turn to the experts. The result is a gripping documentary that features interviews with key opinion leaders from Harvard, Columbia, UCLA and more. These thought leaders frankly discuss pharmaceutical influence as it relates to consumers, physicians, research, the FDA and Capitol Hill.』
Kakaku：998 saved$9.98
Postcards
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (American Beauty) 『OK, I admit it! I picked up this CD because of the great-looking Ralph Lauren-esque cover art. Lara is gorgeous and not your typical classical pianist. But then I listened to the recording and discovered that she's REALLY not your typical classical pianist! A feisty, swinging musician with a mind of her own, she brings a brand new sound to these terrific American classics. I can't recommend this enough.』
(Unusual - I love it!) 『As a piano fan and record collector, I always look for new concepts and presentations. This is a marvelous collection of seldom-heard works that deserve more attention. Miss Downes is a big talent. Bravo!』 『Pianist Lara Downes takes us on a journey through the heart and soul of the USA with American Ballads, as she interprets 20th century works by Barber, Copland, Ives, Thompson and features the world premiere recording of jazz composer/saxophonist Benny Golson's On Gossamer Wings.This collection of solo pieces reflects the influence of popular music on our master composers and captures the essence of the American spirit, brilliantly performed by one of today's remarkable talents.
Lara Downes has attracted attention as one of the most exciting and communicative pianists of today's younger generation. She has been cited by critics for her breathtaking virtuosity and penetrating, sensitive accounts of classical and romantic repertoire. She has been hailed as an artist worthy of placement in the highest rank of classical performers. Since making noteworthy debuts at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Ms. Downes performs regularly throughout Europe and the United States.
Ms. Downes eclectic and engaging programs encompass both the standard repertoire and works by young composers such as Augusta Read Thomas and Stephen Paulus. Her recent projects include a Copland Centennial recital, a recently discovered piano concerto by Clara Schumann, and a four-part recital series entitled This American Century. She recently made the world premiere recording of On Gossamer Wings by legendary jazz composer Benny Golson for the Arkadia/Postcards label.
The eldest of the three musical daughters of a civil-rights attorney mother and a Jamaican biochemist father, Ms. Downes began her piano studies at age five at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. At seven, she composed an opera based on the book Charlotte's Web, which was performed in San Francisco. Home-schooled through high school, Ms. Downes completed her advanced studies under Hans Graf at the Vienna Hochschule and with Rudolf Buchbinder at the Music Academy in Basel. She has received highest honors in the Claude Kahn, Palma d'Oro and Artists International competitions.
Ms. Downes' busy solo and chamber career is strongly impacted by her commitment to expanding and developing new audiences for the arts. She dedicates time during her concert tours to elementary school workshops, and has developed a wide network of community outreach through the University of California at Davis. She is the co-founder and artistic director of Arts Exchange, a project dedicated to building creative partnerships between the visual and performing arts. In her own words: "I'd like to re-define the concert experience, to give it new relevance in our 21st-century world".
Ms. Downes speaks fluent English, Italian, German and French. She lives in Northern California.』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
