Shadows And Light [DVD] [2008]

The music here is among the best of anythng I have ever heard and bookmarks one part of my life when I was like the Coyote in the song... Hitch-hiking all over the damn place, footloose and fancy free. It's very nice to look back on, and I've long since lost that time, but in exchange I've had 35 years with the lady I met in those days and six kids. But you can look back to the days on the road; the music is like that. And in the performances, Jaco Pastorius, sadly long since gone, is truly astonishing. Pat Metheny, looking very young indeed, is also at his best. Everyone looks young, impossibly so. The music is a thing of wonder. Joni Mitchell is a genius.But the video is truly dreadful. There are, at the most two cameras; and they don't know what they're doing. The footage that is actually missing is the dreadful thing; Jacos firey solo at the end of "Black Crow" is simply not there; at that moment the camera shots wander about, disinterested, unaware, seeingly carried around by distracted shoppers in a largely empty mall. The rest is scarcely better.Worse is the clumsy and absolutely inept cutting of the live footage with strange and totally out of context footage from a bizarre collection of black and white movies and odd nature material that doesn't even begin to fit in with the mood of the music. THis is infuriating; there is more than enough going on with the incredible performances on stage; it's as though the musicians are simply not appreciated.I have to warn prospective purchasers that the actual music - which is unimpeachable - is probably actually better experienced on the CD; with the DVD recording, there are faint but discernable compression artifacts. But having said that, the mix is somewhat different, and you do get better supporting vocals.If there is surviving footage for this, I would say that this really, REALLY deserves re-authoring and remixing entirely. For the sake of the brilliance of the musicians involved, and those precious moments so long ago, it would certainly be worthwhile.

Simply brilliant from start to finish. I watch it over and over and still I find it too short. Centred predominantly around tracks from Hejira album this is Joni at her very best surrounded by stunning group of musicians who must love her work as much as I do to perform it with such eloquence. In particular, Pat Metheny's guitar adds a texture here that (almost) rivals that of the album tracks. By the time of the first chords of Amelia I am enchanted and the spell lasts long after the credits roll.

Enjoyed this. Although NTSC and quality of US TV standard it played on my Sony blu-ray player through my LG TV. Great to see a young Pat Metheny and the distinctive pose of Jaco Pastorius not forgetting Lyle Mays contribution. The only gripe I have is that Joni Mitchell, being the artist she is, covers a fair amount of footage with unnecessary filming when I would rather just see the band play. A great show and all performers give it 110%. Joni, of course, is brilliant.

I consider this one of Joni Mitchell's greatest recorded live performances. Partly Due to her choice of musicians she chose to share the stage with. Pat Metheny and his chums do Joni's fantastic compositions justice. So sad however Jaco Pastorious never made old bones!

Actually although I love the album and love Joni, the DVD version was disappointing because too much of it was wasted on irrelevant bits of film footage clumsily cut into the footage of the concert. I bought this because I wanted to see more of Joni and the band but some of the best bits are ruined because of this. If anyone knows of a version that hasn't been mucked about with I would love to know.

No regrets in buying this. I have pretty much everything Joni has recorded, but for some reason I never purchased SAL. Instead of getting the CD I decided to go for this DVD, partly on the basis of other reviews here, and I was not disappointed. I agree with the comments about the James Dean clips and other superfluous inclusion, it really is very irritating which is why it gets only 4 stars from me. I could even do without the Amelia Earhart clips and the iceskating accompanying Hejira, which, although possibly relevant, are a distraction. As a guitarist, I'd rather see what Joni is doing with her alternative tunings and what Pat Metheny is up to, which for most of the DVD you can see quite clearly. However, Joni has these crazy ideas from time to time, and we can forgive her the occasional blunder. This is a great DVD for any Joniphile - compare the performances here with the same songs on 'Painting with Words and Music' for example and you get a fascinating insight into an artist's changing style. As has been mentioned here, the band are on top form, this is pretty much the zenith of Joni's jazz phase, showing the evolution from 'Court and Spark' through to 'Mingus' After this, we have a few anodyne offerings such as 'Wild Things Run Fast' and 'Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm' before Joni gets back to her best in the early 90's. I have to add I can't agree with the review by 'mmschool' - the sound quality is absolutely fine.

Of the three Joni mitchell DVDs that I have I would rate "Painting with Words and Music" as No.1 with "Woman of Heart and Mind" a close No.2."Shadows and Light" is definitely No.3. It is still worth having but I was constantly distracted by the video clips that broke the continuity of the live stage show. I am not a great fan of Joni's jazz excursions ... but on those occasions when I feel in the mood I prefer to listen to the CD version of "Shadows and Light".

Another great album from Joni from the seventies onwards, perhaps not her best but still very listenable .