Isaac Hayes – Live At Montreux 2005 (Eagle Eye Media DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B     Extras: D     Concert: B

 

 

Isaac Hayes has been a groundbreaking musician and performer of Soul music for over four decades now and even when he has veered off into acting, has continued to be a force to be reckoned with musically and a new DVD of Isaac Hayes – Live At Montreux 2005 shows the voice, energy, attitude and innovation that put him on the map is alive and well.  With his South Park era ended, it is back to what he does best.

 

The songs here in this 102 minutes set include:

 

1)     Don’t Let Go

2)     Don’t Take Your Love Away

3)     Windows Of The World

4)     Blues Is Alright

5)     Joy

6)     Walk On By

7)     Drum Solo

8)     Do Your Thing

9)     Ellie’s Love Theme

10)  Never Can Say Goodbye

11)  By The Time I Get To Phoenix

12)  Theme From “Shaft”

 

 

 

He still sounds great delivering these songs and the one thing I was reminded again was how he always makes his versions of other’s hits his own.  Walk On By and Never Can Say Goodbye are enduing compositions and his takes just confirm their status as classics.  Though there were no big surprises, this is a very consistent, strong concert that delivers and that is more than enough to recommend it.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is one of the better HD shot productions we have seen on DVD, with limited motion blur, really consistent color and more detail than mist HD concerts to date in this lower-def format.  The DTS 5.1 sound trumps its Dolby Digital 5.1 and especially 2.0 equivalents, with a fine soundstage to match the performances.  There are no extras.

 

For more on Hayes, try this review of the fine Mobile Fidelity 24K Gold SACD of his classic album Hot Buttered Soul:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/275/Isaac+Hayes+-+Hot+Buttered+Soul

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo