October 2000

James Taylor - Live at the Beacon Theater
Reviewed by Roger Kanno
DVD Format

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Picture Quality:
Sound Quality:
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Featuring James Taylor

Directed by Beth McCarthy

DVD Release: 1998
Dolby Digital 5.1
Full Screen

So you say you want a great sounding DVD to show off your system? You have tried using Saving Private Ryan, but your guests usually end up becoming more shell shocked than the soldiers onscreen after just a few minutes of its punishing soundtrack. The same is true for most films used by home theater enthusiasts to demonstrate their systems. These soundtracks are usually heavily laden with explosions, gunshots, and other deafening sound effects that may impress your friends, but are also loud enough to cause hearing loss and frighten children and small animals. So instead, why not use a well-recorded concert video to showcase your audiophile-approved home theater system? Although DVDs of this quality are few and far between, James Taylor - Live At The Beacon Theater is just such a disc.

Originally recorded for a PBS broadcast in May of 1998, this DVD is a treat for both the eyes and ears, especially if you are a fan of Taylor. His folksy charm and lyrical style (which was described as a unique brand of bittersweet, folk rock during his guest appearance on the Simpsons animated television series) are captured in this intimate concert that features many of his old hits and some well chosen covers. Taylor also has a self-deprecating sense of humor and an easy-going manner that perfectly suits his style of music. He is backed up by a talented group of musicians who have toured and performed on studio sessions with many of the stars and legends of popular music.

Although not up to the standards of say his younger brother, Livingston’s two channel, audio recording of Ink on the Chesky label, this DVD is one of the better sounding Dolby Digital 5.1 music mixes around. Taylor’s vocals and acoustic guitar are superbly recorded, although somewhat overly center-channel oriented. This leads to a slight shrinking of the soundstage with the imaging never extending outside of the left or right front speakers as well as limiting the depth of the soundstage. The surround channels do not really come into play except for the occasional ambience from the venue or the audience which is the way that it should be. Although this recording may lack some "air" and the fine detail associated with the very best two-channel recordings, the overall fidelity of the vocals and the instruments is still exceptional. The only area where the audio quality falls short on this recording is in the reproduction of bass. During the more raucous selections, bass guitar and drums sometimes blend together in a muddy mixture that is diffusely spread across the front speakers. Fortunately, this is not overwhelming and is relatively infrequent. The real treat is when Taylor plays his acoustic guitar with little or no accompaniment and sings either solo or with a chorus of his back up singers. Songs such as "You Can Close Your Eyes," "You’ve Got A Friend," and "Not Fade Away" are sweet, melodic and provide a stirring musical experience.

Not only does this DVD feature excellent sound quality, but the video quality is even more impressive. With vibrant colors that appear very accurate and bright, but natural stage lighting, the glistening beads of sweat on Taylor’s brow appear so real that they will have you reaching to throw him a towel. The picture is a little soft which leads to some loss of detail especially in the shadows, but this is only a minor distraction. For a live concert video, this DVD also contains a fair amount of extras such as biographies of the band members, two music videos, an interview with Taylor, and his discography.

James Taylor - Live At The Beacon Theater is not just for fans of Taylor and his folksy brand of music. Anyone who treasures a well-recorded live performance that captures the essence of an artist, especially one that features exceptional video quality and a good multi-channel audio mix will appreciate this DVD.

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