Back to Back Live – Mr. B. & Bob Seeley, two pianos (2009)
Mark Lincoln Braun & Bob Seeley, Boogie Woogie masters
Concert film
Studio: Megawave Records/Aplethora Productions [Distr. by MVD, release date: 10/20/09]
Video: 16:9 color
Audio: Dolby stereo
Extras: 2 tunes with students of Seeley, pre-concert interviews with both pianists, post-concert interviews with audience members
Length: 97 minutes
Rating: ****
This is a full concert in a small auditorium in Transverse City, Michigan, by two legendary pianists specializing in Boogie Woogie. They give interesting history of the form in their introductions to the 14 tunes they play, and the contrasting styles of the two piano ticklers adds interest to the proceedings. Although it’s possible that viewers who are not as into Boogie Woogie as this audience obviously was may find that the program is a bit too long, or long in the tooth, for them. I was a bit disappointed that there were actually few tracks in which both pianists performed together on the two pianos. And there’s not much effort to place the left piano in the left channel and the right in the right channel.
The opening Cow Cow Blues is interesting since it is played twice – once by each of the pianists. Later Braun plays his version of the St. Louis Blues, followed by Seeley at the other piano doing Earl Hines arrangement, Boogie Woogie on the St. Louis Blues. The final number is a piano-three-hands duet at the same keyboard by B. and Seeley, on the appropriately-named Cheek to Cheek Boogie – which brings down the house.
The sound is good and the 16:9 image welcome, though sometimes shots are a bit loose or out of focus. The closeups of the finger work are appreciated.
TrackList: Cow Cow Blues x 2, Pine Top’s Boogie, Boogie Woogie Stomp, St. Louis Blues x 2, Going Down Slow, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Little Brother, Seeley’s Boogie, My Sunday Best, Bumble Boogie, Honk Tonk Train Blues, Check to Cheek Boogie
– John Henry
