City Rhythm Orchestra –
Vibrant Tones (DVD/CD)
Picture: C
Sound: B Extras: D Music: B
We have seen and heard enough Blues music and concerts
recently that it feels like Rock in retreat in often the saddest possible
way. The gross commercialization of
Country is far more embarrassing, so why not Big Band Jazz? The City Rhythm Orchestra is doing just that
and not a bad job either. Vibrant
Tones is a new DVD/CD set that shows off their work in the studio (CD) and
on stage (DVD) where in both cases, their enjoyment of the music and playing it
shows.
The CD offers:
1) Senor
Blues
2) Time
After Time
3) The Cat
4) Billie’s
Bounce
5) Walk On
The Wild Side
6) Blues In
Hoss’ Flat
7) It Could
Happen To You
8) One Mint
Julep
9) It Ain’t
Necessarily So
10) Whirly Bird
11) The Midnight Sun Will Never Set
12) Turn Me Loose
The DVD offers:
1) Things
Ain’t What They Used To Be
2) The Cat
3) The
Midnight Sun Will Never Set
4) Pennies
From Heaven
5) Moanin’
6) Senor
Blues
7) Billie’s
Bounce
8) One Mint
Julep
9) Walk On The
Wild Side
10) Whirly Bird
11) Peter Gunn (The Theme From)
This is the kind of set that could help put the group
further on the map, offering two discs that may overlap on some songs, but not
the same exact recordings, as is often the case in these sets. Though there are some very talented
musicians here, but Jazz organist Joey De Francesco gets special billing due to
his star status. No problem, especially
if it gets this fine work more attention.
The CD run about 73 minutes, while the DVD runs about an hour.
The 1.33 X 1 image on the DVD is on the soft side, likely
taped on DV or maybe professional NTSC analog tape. PCM 16Bit 2.0 Stereo sound is on both discs, with the CD having
44.1kHz and DVD having 48 kHz. The CD
is not as smooth, but has slightly more fullness, as the soundtrack does not
have to share room with the video.
There are no extras, though a nice text foldout is included in the
foldout Digipaks. Be sure to visit www.cityrhythm.com to learn more about
the band and order this and other titles in their catalog.
- Nicholas Sheffo
