SOUNDSTAGE PRESENTS CHICAGO

There are surprisingly few DVDs and videos available of Chicago performing live; this set is probably the best of a very small bunch. While it does not capture the band at their creative peak, indeed it records a comparatively recent concert from the current century, there is a palpable excitement to the performance and the audience reaction.

Recorded for PBS (a sort of US equivalent of the BBC) in 2003, in front of a sympathetic audience, there is a sense here that the whole thing has been carefully stage managed for the filming of the event. The audience appear to be rejects from "The price is right", their bright clothing and fawning being consistent with out of site "Applaud now" signs and invitations to "Come on down".

Little information is given about the eight man line up, but it would appear that four of them are original members. Peter Cetera is missing, but his absence is not as significant as it could have been, with other band members making a decent fist of impersonation or tribute, depending on your stance. The big band sound Chicago are best known for appears intermittently throughout, intermingled with the band's less palatable soft ballads such as the (unfortunately) inevitable "If you leave me now". It is though songs such as "Make me smile", "Saturday in the park", "Does anybody really know what time it is", "I'm a man" and the closing "25 or 6 to 4" which make this set irresistible. These masterpieces of commercial jazz rock have lost none of their power or appeal, the punchy brass section lighting them up now as it did up to 40 years ago.

The 5.1 surround sound is well recorded to almost studio quality, and the filming superb. Depending on the version you get, you may or may not get extras on the DVD. Mine has none whatsoever, indeed it is even devoid of credits of any kind at the end of the gig.

Anyone with fond recollections of this fine band would be well advised to pick up a copy of this presentation, which is currently available as a budget label release.