Search - B.B. King: Blues Summit on DVD

Disappointing!!

Patricio Orio | Valdivia, CHILE | 11/29/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It really looks like a great concert is in the DVD. And the interviews are really interesting; I think they are maybe the best reason for why one would like to have this DVD. But two facts made me feel really disappointed.
First, the songs are not all in their complete performance. The beggining of most of them is overlapped with the interviews, some solos (which are the best expression of any blues performer's excellence) are cutted!!, and the final jam is chopped in three parts by the interviews, reducing the instrumental part to a minimum. Maybe is a really great jam but I just can't tell. This is unacceptable for any blues lover. So, if you really want to see what BB King is on a stage and admire him as a great blues performer, do not buy this DVD.
Second, the compression quality does not seem to be the best. Maybe this is a minor concern, but in some scenes the lossyness of MPEG compression can be really noticed. I am not an expert in video compression, but in other movies I have not seen such a thing. So, if you really want to feel that you are getting the best out of your DVD player, you should also consider not to buy this one."

A great idea botched!

greg platt | Springville, AL United States | 06/13/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Next to Albert King, BB is my favorite blues singer/ guitist. The CD is awesome, so maybe I expected the DVD to be on the same level. Wrong! 65% of DVD is filler with comments from BB as well as other authorities such as Rufus Thomas and the smart white guy who teaches at some local Mississippi college.Where is the concert? Although the DVD gives you the option of "playing just the music" , you just don't get much. The producers should have just recorded the show in its entirety and the DVD would have been close to a masterpiece!Instead, they make it a documentary instead of a concert. I was very disappointed!"

Good Set... too many interspersions.

greg platt | 02/15/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you were to only get one BB DVD, get the BET Jazz one. This one was filmed in the mid 90's [BB is actually standing!!] at this Blues Club in NY. It is in documentary format. Interview, song with guest, interview etc. you get the picture. Somehow, I wish they could deliver the full set... but this is the only DVD I know that has all his great guests (Buddy Guy, for example).It is full frame, mastering is decent, some bleeding and fuzziness - no big deal unless you have some monster 61" screen.What annoyed me the most is that the master is sped up by about 7-8% Ugghh! and the DVD is short to boot.I wind up playing the JAZZ DVD over this one. But, this has it's moments (except for the songs are way too short, and the sped up master doesn't help).Recommend for fans of BB! I am a huge fan of BB and still must give this a 3."