Search - Sun Ra Arkestra - Live In Europe - Montreux and Lugano (Vol. 3) on DVD

Great Broadcast But Bootleg Quality

directions | Space Time Foam | 11/28/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know the whole story of the Sun Ra remasters of his televesion broadcasts but perhaps the original footage couldn't be found. If this were the original footage I would not hesitate to give it five stars (the "Live in Montreux" album has the complete concert) but it appears to be a copy of multiple generations in origin that is sub par to say the "Jazz Icons" series and is basically of bootleg quality. And Sun Ra live was not just audio of course. The whole stage show and persona he took on cannot and will never be duplicated so its a shame to have this quality a broadcast as you cannot really appreciate it. If the original masters are found and reproduced in good quality then my take on this footage would change but then again if they aren't and you do want to see what Sun Ra was like live during a video broadcast this was him at his prime and he was a true jazz innovator. Too bad you can't see it more clearly. A very sad two stars for what could have easily been five star video footage."