Peter Cincotti – Live in New York (2005)

by | Dec 12, 2005 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews | 0 comments

Peter Cincotti – Live in New York (2005)

Piano & vocals with 10-piece group plus string quartet
Studio: MonsterMusic SuperDisc MMU 44169 (DVD + CD)
Video: Enhanced for 16:9 display
Audio: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, 96K PCM stereo, computer audio files in WMA, AAC & Apple Lossless (encoded for Dolby Headphone), 44.1 on CD
Extras: Interviews with Cincotti, 3 bonus tracks, Noel Lee videos with performance tips, THX Optimizer, Bonus CD
Length: CD – 50:17, DVD – not given
Rating: ****

Young singer-pianist Cincotti is certainly “right now” in the world of jazz.  He topped Billboard’s charts with his first album in 2003, and his second release “On The Moon” is actually the bonus standard CD provided with this video SuperDisc. About half of its tunes are also performed by Peter and his compatriots in the concert video. The producer for both was Phil Ramone, so everything is at a very high standard here.

You again have a choice of “Orchestral” or “In the Room” acoustics on the audio mixes of the DVD, and there are again a variety of computer audio files in AAC and WMA plus Apple Lossless. On these files Dolby Headphone processing allows for a pseudo-surround experience with ordinary stereo headphones. There are also four difference short videos with Head Monster Noel Lee explaining how the album was mixed for surround and how to hook up your equipment and get the best sound from the album.

Meiert Avis, who has previously done music videos for Bruce Springsteen and U2, was the director of the concert footage seen here.  It has some of the highest-definition and freshest visual approaches I have seen on DVD music videos.  Notice on the song list that Cincotti does two songs with Roof in the title. That’s probably because this video was performed on a NYC rooftop in summer as dusk approaches and the sun is setting. It’s really a pleasure to watch, and the listening ain’t bad either. Cincotti’s vocals are very laid-back and informal-sounding but he can swing when he wants to. His solo during the strictly instrumental closer Night in Tunisia shows that he has good keyboard chops as well as a pleasant voice. Play this demo-quality DVD from those who equate HT only with watching feature films or TV series, and perhaps it will introduce them to the pleasures of just sitting down and enjoying a hi-def, hi-res concert in surround sound!

Tracks on video: St. Louis Blues, Bali Ha’i, Raise the Roof, Up On the Roof, He’s Watching, Some Kind of Wonderful, sway, On the Moon, I Love Paris, You Don’t  Know Me, Night in Tunisia; Bonus tracks: The Girl for Me Tonight, The Girl I Knew, I Changed the Rules. CD tracks: St. Louis Blues, Some Kind of Wonderful, I Love Paris, On the Moon, Bali Ha’i, He’s Watching, Raise the Roof, The Girl for Me Tonight, You Don’t Know Me, I’d Rather Be with You, Up on the Roof, Cherokee.

– John Sunier
 

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