Product Description

Following a massive 55-city North American Tour in support of her quadruple platinum selling FEELS LIKE HOME, Norah Jones’s historic ride continues with the release of an amazing DVD. Filmed in August 2004 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the concert film includes performances of most of the songs from FEELS LIKE HOME as well as hits from her landmark debut album COME AWAY WITH ME, and choice covers. Special Guests include Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and Richard Julian.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20513 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-11-16
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.com
Norah Jones's growth as a performing artist since she burst on the scene in 2002 is apparent on Norah Jones and the Handsome Band: Live in 2004, her second concert DVD (following Live in New Orleans, released in '03). The gifted singer-pianist-songwriter is still something of a reluctant headliner; personable if not exactly effusive (and seemingly bemused by the adulation), she's self-effacing and winningly unpretentious onstage. That goes for the music as well, as Jones and her empathetic band (now including guitarist Robbie McIntosh, formerly of the Pretenders and Paul McCartney's band) put on a tasteful, understated show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Songs from her second CD, Feels Like Home, are favored, along with a version of the Grammy-winning "Don't Know Why" that's received with near-reverence by the audience. Jones's choice of cover material, including tunes by John Prine ("That's the Way the World Goes 'Round"), Tom Waits ("The Long Way Home"), and Gram Parsons ("She," which is among the several bonus tracks; other extras include two videos and three "mini-documentaries"), is also admirable, but it's when her various guests show up that the show approaches genuine transcendence. Among them are Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who harmonize beautifully with Jones on Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta," and the indefatigable Dolly Parton, whose duet with Jones on bassist Lee Alexander's bluegrass-flavored "Creepin' In" is the undisputed highlight of the show. Radiant, ebullient, and in great voice, Parton is a star, and Norah defers to her accordingly. The only problem comes when Jones and company have to pick up where Parton left off, and in truth, it takes them a while to recover. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Absolutely beautiful DVD
As a connoisseur of music on DVD, I am puzzled by some of the previous reviewers' remarks. I've watched it twice now, and in my opinion this is one of the finest music DVD's to be released in years.

It goes without saying that there is more musical talent in a Q-tip full of Nora Jones' earwax than in any three of the current crop of silly, belly-baring "stars" that have been manufactured for our consumption, and this DVD highlights her talent perfectly.

The fantastic group of musicians that she so graciously introduces to us, (both in her band and appearing as special guests,) only add to the experience. This is stage playing at its very best, and everyone involved seems to be inspired to deliver their all, simply because they are playing with Nora.

Finally, the arrangements, lighting, cinematography, editing and direction are all at or near top-notch. I simply can't think of any complaints; even blurring is used artistically during some of the shot changes, and along with wide-angles and closeups, we get a cornucopia of "musicians" shots of fingers and hands at work on strings and keys.

If you like Nora Jones even a little bit, buy this DVD and after watching it, you'll like her a lot more.

And finally, to those reviewers who seem to feel compelled to comment on her appearance: In my book, she sounds and plays so well that it wouldn't make any difference if she looked like W.C. Fields. That she is beautiful is just a minor and almost irrelevant fringe benefit to being able to watch her genius in action.

A most pleasant performance
It's amazing what a couple years of touring and stage savvy can do.

While I never purchased "Norah Jones: Live in New Orleans," the lengthy preview I had of it prompted me to give it a pass. Not that I dislike Jones or her talented backing ensemble. I really felt that she looked scared to death in New Orleans. The close-up camera shots emphasized every nervous grimace and accentuated the beads of sweat on her face. It gave me a most unpleasant feeling watching her like that. It was like she was horrified that we might see her make a rookie mistake or something.

"Norah Jones and the Handsome Band: Live in 2004" thankfully has none of the close-ups, none of the nervous looking grimaces and all of the polish an experienced touring band is able to provide. That and Norah, for this disc anyways, seems to be really comfortable on stage in front of the camera.

Fans of her CDs will not find the band straying far from their recorded arrangements. The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is clean and captures the band's instruments nicely. I had a minor niggle with the mix being predominantly from the front channels only. The rear channels just provide crowd sounds for the greater degree.

In all, every song is well performed. There isn't a weak moment on the whole disc. It is an intimate, relaxed DVD that would be great to entertain with. In addition to Jones herself, standouts for me were Kevin Breit's rootsy rhythm guitar playing, percussionist Andrew Borger's expressive work on his kit and a demure Daru Oda providing some sublime backing vocals.

I was very pleased playing this disc and much relieved that I didn't get a repeat of the New Orleans one.

Best Concert DVD...
Upon this DVD's release, I bought it at the Suncoast Video price at $19.99 (little to my knowledge there was a best buy next door with the DVD for $14.99). Even though 5 dollars was wasted... I wasn't so mad after I watched it.

Pros: Perfect Singing by Norah Jones, DARU ODA!!!, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Richard Julian. A different taste of the "Feels Like Home" CD. Handsome Band Documentaries, Opening scenes (the empty auditorium for "What Am I To You?" and "The Prettiest Thing"), revived tracks from "Come Away With Me"

Cons: If you're expecting the CD "Feels Like Home" to be sung note for note, rhythm for rhythm on the DVD, you're in for disappointment. If you want to listen to all the tracks you have to bend around the Special Features section for "Toes", "Creepin' In" (Without Dolly), "Come Away With Me", and "She".

CONCERT:
What Am I To You? - 5/5
Sunrise - 5/5 (For a uniquely different style)
Those Sweet Words - 5/5
In The Morning - 4/5
Carnival Town - 5/5 (AMAZING)
That's The Way The World Goes Round - 4/5
Humble Me - 4/5
Don't Miss You At All - 5/5 (Excellent Display)
The Long Way Home - 5/5 (Daru on flute is amazing)
Don't Know Why - 5/5 (Excellent, pure)
Creepin' In - 3/5 (The Album track is beyond better, Dolly Parton stops singing at times to talk and shriek losing my enthusiasm...)
The Prettiest Thing - 4/5
Moon Song - 4/5
Above Ground - 5/5 (Perfect)
Loretta - 4/5
Life Is A Carnival - 4/5

Concert Grade - 4.4375 - 4/5

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Performances:
She - 5/5
Come Away With Me - 5/5 (Pure)
Creepin' In - 3/5 (Needs Dolly)
Toes - 5/5

Music Videos:
What Am I To You? - 3/5 (Shots of the band?)
Those Sweet Words - 4/5 (Simplistic, yet beautiful)

Now I think the Sunrise Video should definetely be there... I love the Sunrise Video...

Mini - Documentaries:
The Handsome Band Bio: From the Beginning - 5/5
24 Hours on the Handsome Bus - 4/5
Robbie and Adam's Guitar Tour - 2/5 (I got so bored...)

Special Features Grade - 4 - 4/5

FINAL RATING - 4/5