Search - Stanley Jordan Trio - The Paris Concert on DVD

Phenomenal!!!!!

Star Thrower | 12/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stanley Jordan is a musical genius and on this fantastic DVD you'll get to observe him at the top of his game. The show was recorded at the New Morning Club in Paris in July of 2007 and features solo and trio performances with Charnett Moffett on bass, and David Haynes on drums.

The concert begins with a solo rendition of the McCartney classic Yesterday. The first thing you notice is the beautiful tone emanating from Jordan's guitar as he works his magic employing his trademark two handed touch technique. I first witnessed Jordan's playing at a solo concert back in 1986 and I can tell you that he's a lot more confident on stage 21 years later.

In addition to his amazing guitar skills, Jordan is also an accomplished pianist. After the hard swinging guitar trio number A Place In Space, Stanley takes a seat at the piano with guitar still in hand and launches into an improvisation playing both instruments simultaneously as he segues into Horace Silver's Song For My Father. During this familiar tune Jordan plays a guitar solo with his right hand while comping on piano with his left hand and then switches hands in mid-stream! Bass virtuoso Moffett leads the trio into the next tune, Miles Davis's All Blues, still featuring Jordan on both piano and guitar.

Up next is an abstract solo guitar improvisation loosely based on the 2nd movement of Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra. I'm familiar with this piece but can't really lay my ears on any familiar passages. Things continue in a classical vein with the beautiful and easily recognizable theme from the 2nd movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21.

There is more swinging trio action on the jazz standard Now's The Time, and then the trio settles into a lengthy rendition of John Coltrane's classic ballad Naima. The concert concludes with an amazing display of virtuosity by bassist Moffett as he employs percussive and bowing techniques on an amplified double bass sawing away on a Hendrix like rendition of Amazing Grace. Jordan joins in to lead the trio into their final number, a great performance of his exotic composition Return Expedition, a tune first recorded for his 1985 debut Magic Touch.

Also included is a short interview where Jordan discusses his formative years and musical development, physical fitness for musicians, and the spiritual aspect of music."

Great concert

J. Overing | Irvington, NY | 07/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this dvd is packed with amazing displays of guitar as well as piano, and at one point in one song he plays them at the same time, for anybody who loves jazz but really fast, yet emotional and a really good musician who can really play their instrument, this dvd is for them. the only down side is that the special feature is kinda short, but that doesnt take away from the dvd because what is said is very touching and unforgettable. great product. recommended for any jazz enthusiast, or anybody who just loves great guitar and piano music."