Three Nights on the Town (2005)

DON'T MESS WITH BRUCE!

Fall of 2004. Three Nights on the Town starts off with Bruce's arrival in New York City on his way to the legendary jazz mecca, the Blue Note. Good quality video. You will enjoy and experience 160 minutes of fabulous music, Bruce and band at play, at work, and informal interviews. Bruce does three concerts at three historic New York City venues: the Blue Note, the "venerated" Town Hall in a sold-out concert, (where in the early 60's Bob Dylan performed a truly superlative rendition of "Masters of War" that ended with a ROARING ovation), and a solo piano concert at Carnegie Hall's prestigious Zankel Hall, (which unfortunately is not included in this CD).

At the Blue Note he performs his live supermasterpiece, "Resting Place," which was put in Intersections. I HAD to combine the video with the CD in my stereo to try to get the full impact of the music and see Bruce singing and playing this, since this was one of my top favorites. I was able to get the sound and voice to match EXACTLY after a few frustrating tries. I found out they EDITED the one in Intersections taking out some intitial piano playing. I am SURE the live supermasterpiece renditions of Candy Mountain Run and White Wheeled Limousine/Long Black Veil that are in Intersections are also performed in this DVD. Don't shoot me if I'm wrong, but I am 100% sure these renditions are included in Intersections--my judgment call. They edited all of them just a little, to my chagrin. However, in this CD you see and hear Bruce & band play "Resting Place" and the others from beginning to end. I really want to see Bruce play the piano from a good angle. I would have preferred to see more of Bruce at the piano at good angles--not too close and parallel. Bruce and his very talented musicians effortlessly turn (it seems effortless) many favorites into improvisional and compositional "music magic" masterpieces. Bruce and his band really let loose, and some real supermasterpieces are created right before your eyes.

Bruce tells how he was influenced by Bob Dylan. When I first heard "Resting Place" in Intersections, (which was my second CD--or CDs-- I got from him), I immediately thought of Bob Dylan's "Shelter From the Storm."

Bruce explains how difficult it is to play two-handed independence and gives the DVD audience some explanations and demonstrations. He might have been referring to the request from one of his fans from an earlier concert, and you can hear Bruce in a spectacular demonstration of 2-handed independence on the two-CD set, Here Comes the Noisemakers. He explained that it's like splitting your brain in half and it takes three months, more or less, to practice into the mastery he possesses--not his words--just my summary of what he said. I was relieved to hear that he, too, has to practice! After I heard he started playing piano at 8 for one year and then resumed at 17, I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I am jealous for the first time in my life! It took him only about 2-3 years to be ready for university-level music?--he is indeed a musical genius to say the least. Oh my God!

Jazz is a very intellectual type of music they said and that adds another point to his genius. Don't mess with Brucey baby! He can split his brain in half--each side working independently of the other, he is an intellectual, music is math--he is super intelligent, oh my! If you are his accountant, get those figures right the first time, and if you are his lawyer, ask him for advise first! Don't make ANY mistakes. Get all those notes correct! Ha ha.

Very rarely do I get impressed by anyone. I lived in Europe for many years, I saw stunners on a daily basis, but when I saw Bruce for the very first time on video in Intersections after lavishing him with praise on my first review for his music alone, I fell over backwards and became one with the floor, seared flat into the carpet! The rescue squad from the fire Dept. had to come & peel me off the floor! Ha ha.

Bruce is terrific, the band is terrific. Get his DVD.

Next time I want to see Bruce's fingers on that keyboard at the right angle for longer periods of time. That was missing here for me. Too close and parallel some of the times. Get those right angles where I can really watch him go at that keyboard for a while.

August 18, 2008

Wonderful !!

If you love Bruce Hornsby, this is a must have show, what a great artist with wonderful musicians. sound is excellent (5.1 dolby digital).
i watched this show many times and enjoy it each time.
Don't think twice, just buy this great DVD, believe me you will not be disappointed!
Ran May 2, 2008

Fantastic

This is probably the best DVD Bruce has put out to date. I'd still love to see a few different songs performed live, but every fan wants something different. Three very different concerts and the documentary make for some interesting viewing (and listening), especially if you're into more than just recreational listening. March 2, 2008

Enjoyable

IMO if you like Bruce you will like this. Nothing exceptional, no chances taken, just a couple of hours with Bruce. The band meshed nicely, the only stand out being the drummer, other than Bruce. The sound mix was average, the video good. It's enjoyable. June 12, 2007

if you like improvisation, you'll like this

Hornsby's musical talent is phenomenal. Sound quality on this DVD is fine although some of Sonny Emery's fine cymbal work is lost in the mix. I agree with others that the video quality is shy. Look at Boz Scagg's Greatest Hits Live for an example of superior sound & picture reproduction. Bruce's voice still commands attention after all the years performing. Outstanding tracks I think are "The Way It Is" and "Fortunate Son" which is mixed with Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". Wonderful. April 4, 2007

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