Live At Celtic Connection (Blu-ray)

Wow, Richard Thompson, what a master (musician, song-smith, performer)!

This show from January 25th, 2011, recorded in Scotland after almost a year of steady touring that began in February 2010 (recorded as the album Dream Attic), consisting of two parts, new songs (played here in the same order as the album) and a selection of old favorites, is pretty much the same as what I heard at the start of the tour in Seattle, except that 2 songs from that earlier recording are missing ("Crimescene" and "Bad Again"). Although I can't remember the exact set list from the excellent, more stretched out second half, it sounds similar. The band is the same (really good, with Taras Prodaniuk on bass, and Joe Zifkin on violin and mandolin, joining RT's old reliable multi-instrumentalist Pete Zorn and drummer Michael Jerome), and the songs are clearly well known by this point, so what we get to hear probably makes RT really happy. It makes the fans happy too.

For any Richard Thompson fan this is a must have DVD (since the killer second set isn't part of Dream Attic, and their performance of "Can't Win" is worth the price of admission alone). Film (high def, sharp and clear) and sound quality is top notch, and the performance seems to be a special one as well. I admit, seeing them here on DVD is even better than it was live.

As a bonus we get two solo acoustic performances, one of my favorites - "Uninhabited Man", and the other the appropriately Celtic, "Johnny's Far Away", to a large enthusiastic crowd at the Cambridge Folk Festival - 1/19/11. Great stuff.

This is Richard Thompson with a larger band -violin, saxophone / flute , and a solid rhythm section . It is a terrific sounding , and wonderfully shot dvd ! Richard Thompson -and band - are in fine form , and the set list of new & old songs is just right . I've seen RT many times , starting with the ' Shoot Out the Lights' tour , and this is the one of the best shows I've ever heard of his . Having the extra instruments really fills out the songs , and makes me eager to catch this group live . A ' 5 STAR ' performance !!!

I must note, at the start, that Dream Attic-- RT's 2010 CD that comprises the first half of this DVD's concert-- is not among my favorites in the RT catalogue. With the exception of the instant classic "If Love Whispers Your Name," the rest of Dream Attic is merely good by RT standards and not as consistently outstanding, in my judgment, as 2007's Sweet Warrior for example. That said, this is a fabulous concert DVD. The performance is impeccable, the video (I have the blu-ray version) is crisp, and the audio quality is clear and detailed. Pop this into a blu ray player hooked up to a big screen HDTV and a decent AV system and it is almost like you are attending the concert live. Aside from the Dream Attic material, the concert includes a number of RT concert staples along with some unexpected surprises. Chief among the latter is a joyous version of "The Angels Took My Race Horse Away" that will give you a new appreciation for the almost 40 year old song. If you are a Richard Thompson fan, you won't regret the purchase which at half the cost of a concert ticket is a great bargain. If you have not yet discovered RT, but have an appreciation for intelligent roots-based rock with a unique, Celtic twist, this DVD will be a revelation.