JJ. Cale featuring Leon Russell - In Session at the Paradise Studios, L.A. 1979

Customer Reviews:

A Laid Back Studio Session.......2007-04-08

My title pretty much tells the story. Two very gifted musicicians and song writers having a fun and informal studio session. No egos or arrogance, but not very surprising since JJ was recording early in his career for Leon's Shelter Records. I've seen Leon several times over the years and twice with the late great bluesman Freddie King (another of Shelter Record's stable) and once with JJ, Freddie and Leon.

A side note: Will the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ever include Leon to his well earned spot in their hall? Along with all of his personal achievements, he was virtually Phil Spector's "wall of sound".

JJ Cale & Friends.......2007-03-17

If you like JJ Cale this dvd is essential. Tracks like 'Same Ole Blues' 'Crazy Mama' & 'Goin' Down' are very impressive. The review about the keys player (with the roller skates...haha) is only somewhat accurate. While I can see his/her point, the guy is damn good and meshes very well with the laid back vibe of the group. The only reason to give this dvd anything but 5 stars is because the bonus tracks 'Lies' & 'Call Me the Breeze' are audio only. 5 Stars...5 Stars. There needs to be more stuff like this.

The Inside Stuff.......2007-01-24

If you like the music of J. J. Cale and you enjoy Leon Russell's unique take on any music he plays, you'll like this effort. It basically is like sitting in on a final practice for a studio recording. The band is arrayed in a small circle in Leon Russell's Paradise Studios. Lots of closeups, no crowd noise, pristeen clear sound quality... very nice. Mr. Russell mostly plays a Hammond B-3 and if you've ever listened to most of J. J. Cale's catalog, you'll know that this instrument is right at home in his songs. It adds a distinctly Bluesy element to the sound signature where Leon stretches a little bit on a solo.

There's one guy, Cale's keyboard player, who doesn't sound quite "on" to me. I've only watched the DVD a couple times, so maybe he'll grow on me with time. The guy IS wearing roller skates, so that might tell you something. The second time through, he sounded better... more "on" than the first time through. The other players are all solid across the board. (Note: these people are still the band that Cale tours with today)

There is the occasional clunked note in this session and it's fun to see the reactions go through the band. These people have an easy, comfortable feel with each other and it's nice to see.

For you guitar nuts, J. J. flips over this old Harmony guitar that he's "worked over" and it is enlightening to say the least. It's the guitar that provides Cale's signature sound on his early albums especially "Naturally" and you will be stunned when you see what he's done to it. I'll say no more as I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. He also uses a Strat on a number of tunes and you get to see him play slide on several tunes as well.

One thing I particularly liked about this disc is you get to see his hands at work close up. Good guitar players will tell you most of the cool sounds are in the player's hands - not the guitar, not the amp, not the strings, not the pickups. This disc demonstrates that like no other one I've found.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I bought it, but I was way more than pleasantly surprised.

J.J. Cale - In Session at the Paradise Studios

Average customer rating:

J. J. Cale and Leon Russell
Session DVD
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GREAT DVD
JJ Cale in Session with Leon Russell

J.J. Cale - In Session at the Paradise Studios
Starring: J.J. Cale
Manufacturer: Classic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000069HXY
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Amazon.com

Reluctant rock hero J.J. Cale takes the spotlight for this 80-minute session, recorded in Los Angeles in 1979 but virtually unseen until 2001. The reclusive, Oklahoma-born Cale is probably best known for writing songs made famous by others ("After Midnight" and "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton, "Call Me the Breeze" by Lynyrd Skynyrd). Those are among the some two dozen tunes heard here (five of which, including "Breeze," are audio-only bonus tracks), as is Cale's own minor hit, "Crazy Mama." The latter is a good example of the witty, laconic groove that Cale, a superb guitar player and laid-back vocalist, brings to much of his music, an appealing style that's been an obvious influence on Mark Knopfler and others. All of that, plus a good band that includes Leon Russell on organ, is just enough to overcome the amateurish, public access feel of the DVD's sound and visuals. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

J. J. Cale and Leon Russell.......2006-12-05

This is a wonderful example of a studio session with a couple of greats - J. J. Cale and Leon Russell. If you think this will be a film extravaganza like the Last Waltz, you will be in for a disappointment. If you are looking for some wonderful music and some inspired guitar playing, J. J. will deliver. If you are looking for some classic piano and organ playing by Leon, this is the DVD to see. The music is inspired and hot. I only wish that Eric Clapton was part of the session. But hey, you can purchase the Road to Escondido to hear EC and J. J. jam like crazy.

Session DVD.......2006-11-10

This is one of the best Session DVD's I have seen to date. However, I have been a huge JJ Cale fan for years. The music was remastered very well.

Not Very Good.......2006-05-17

First let me state that I am a fan of both JJ Cale and Leon Russell. That being said, there is little to like about this video.

The sound quality is decent, but the video portion, while clear, is pathetic. Constant fade ins and outs from one shot to another are certain to give the viewer a headache after about 5 minutes. The camera is seldom on JJ, and while he is playing some great guitar solos the viewer is treated to a shot of Leon Russell sitting there looking stupid. Christine Lakewood looks like she took a couple of Quaaludes, and occupies far too much camera time.

As if all that were not enough, JJ Cales hair looks like a Chia Pet, and one of the keyboard players is wearing shorts and roller skates.

My advice is to turn off the picture of this DVD, and simply listen to the music.

GREAT DVD.......2005-12-08

GREAT DVD with great songs and good 5.1 mix. If you like good and taste music, buy this dvd immediately!!!

JJ Cale in Session with Leon Russell.......2005-10-20

A must for any fan of JJ Cale. Although this session is almost 30 years old, there is no mistaking the laid back style of the man. It is not hard to see where other talented guitarists such as Clapton and Mark Knopfler drew their inspiration from.

The sound may not be as good as some of today's DTS tracks, but the session itself is as cool as it gets.

Well worth the money.

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