The Bottom Line
It's no wonder that Lyle Lovett has given record stores and radio such
trouble in categorizing him. From light jazz to hardcore Americana Texas Country, Lyle
doesn't stay with any one style or any known genre. He is his own man, singing songs
from his soul that matter to him no matter where they get filed in the store. With his
distinctive looks and unmistakable stage presence, there's no one who sounds like or
performs like Lyle Lovett.
Pros
- "If I Had A Boat"
- "Political Science"
- "That's Right, You're Not From Texas"
Cons
- Very slow opening.
Description
- Recorded in Hi-Def for PBS's "Soundstage."
- An 81-minute live recording, featuring several special guests.
- Digitally recorded and mixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
Guide Review - Lyle Lovett - Live in Concert
It was kinda hard for me to get into this disc at first. Lyle opens the PBS-broadcast show with several selections aimed at the light jazz section of his audience, and to be honest, it leaves me cold (and sleepy). But I knew there was good stuff to come, so I stuck it out, and I'm glad I did. Lyle plays slow-tempo swing songs for eight songs before he then turns to the music I like best from him, that tongue-in-cheek Texas country he does so well. Now, I'm not saying he doesn't do the light jazz well he does. In fact, as light jazz goes, this was good stuff. Lyle's slightly gravelly voice knows how to caress the lyrical notes of the Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer songs well. But after Randy Newman's solos, and Lyle strapped on his guitar and started up with "If I Had A Boat," I perked up and enjoyed the heck out of the rest of the disc.Joining Lyle on this disc are the happily goofy Randy Newman, trumpet player Mark Isham, and the jazz virtuoso Francine Reed. Lyle teams up with Randy Newman for a rousing rendition of Randy's Grammy-award-winning "You've Got A Friend In Me" (from "Toy Story"), and then lets Randy do a few solos. Randy also comes back to sing "Long Tall Texan" with Lyle later in the show.
Overall, I really enjoyed this disc and am glad I watched it. But I think that in future watchings, I may skip right ahead to the country part of the evening, unless I'm having a night of wine and cheese, because to me, light jazz is conversation music.