JIMI HENDRIX - LIVE AT WOODSTOCK

Now this is my favorite of the Jimi film experiences! What can you really say about one of the most landmark performances by a musical artist? Unlike his later Isle of Wight, where the ravages of touring and drugs were pushing him over the edge, Jimi is in fine form here. Despite the rain delays that pushed his slot into the next day, Jimi hits the stage with his new band Gypsys, Sun and Rainbows, with full steam. I actually feel sorry for the people that didn't wait around for this stellar closer of the famed festival.

The whole show is just pure Jimi all the way showing his charisma as always, "We're just jamming now, if that's ok!" he tells his audience. His staple Red House is just as smooth and flowing as ever and hold your breath for Voodoo Child (Slight Return) as it runs right into our national anthem and just continues into more improv.

About the only drawbacks I can come up with on this DVD is that the sound mix pretty much eliminates sidemen Larry Lee, Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez, they're barely audible which I think is a little unfair. Another drawback is the erratic editing that was done on the original film. God bless Martin Scorsese, who was assistant director on this film and may or may not have filmed this segment, but the angles get pretty obscure. Too many shots of Jimi from the back that doesn't really give a presentation this event deserves.

The film has been remastered as good as it could be. Unlike the more incomplete 1999 release, the picture is much more natural looking with warmer colors. Adding in the alternate takes of the performances on the 2nd disc and including the never released backstage angles make this a more complete "experience".

As for the sound, the 5.1 mix is about as good as it can be. Old Max Yasgar's farm was certainly not known for it's acoustics, but Warner certainly did the best they could with this vintage recording without it sounding too artificial.

The extras are definitely worth a look to give more insight of the festival and Jimi's show itself with interviews of the band members and concert promoter Michael Lang.

In closing, this was a period where Jimi was at the peak of his powers only a few months away from another landmark concert that took place at Bill Graham's Fillmore East. IMO, this is THE document of that time. Thank heaven it was filmed.

5 stars for performance 3 stars for the filmmaking 3.5 stars for the sound 5 stars for the extras

4.5 stars overall - 'nuff said

As I have said in most of my Jimi's reviews, his band dis best experienced while playing live. When you can effectively SEE him, is just a gorgeous moment.

Of rock music. As simple as that.

In this respect, this double DVD set is AWSOME. Imagine that the band went on stage at approximately 9 AM on a monday morning while the festival should have been ended several hours before!

Since they were appointed to close the festival, Jimi didn't want to swap and really insist to be the last band to play at Woodstock. And what a performance it will be!

It is true that most of the attention in this filming is put into Jimi. All the way through. All the other actors are sort of second tiers, just there to back up the master. Which in a way was their job.

On the contrary of other major player of the festival (Cocker, The Who, Santana) Jimi didn't seem to be ''heavy loaded''. Especially if you consider the time of the day they played. As a devoted fan, I must agree that the many close ups are really gorgeous to watch to. It is a true pleasure each time I watch this fabulous set and the sublime dexterity of the man.

As being in my fifties, I once urged my son to look at how Jimi was great with only a guitar. He was HUGELY impressed, even if I couldn't convert him to a fan. But I was since I was twelve. As soon as the release of the original triple Woodstock album came out; of which the last fourteen minutes closed side six of this legendary soundtrack.

Jimi is rather happy, has a lot of fun on stage and the set he played with his band is just INCREDIBLE. Be aware though that I am biased. He really belongs to the very few of my musical heroes. He was such a marvellous guitar player.

I guess that almost no-one comes close. Neither prog nor rock guitar players. Just watch this performance to be convinced. A magical set, full of maestria.

When you consider that these images have been recorded in 1969, you have to take you hats off. Brilliant close-ups, great images of the god of the guitar play (even if some other players called themselves as such). Here was THE god of guitar, and still is IMVHHO.

It is only sufficient to watch to these Woodstock tapes to understand how great an artist he was. I have seen on stage most of the great ones on earth (Page, Blackmore, Hackett, Howe, Townsend). And I love them a whole a lot. But Jimi is just something from the other world and unmatched so far (and probably for ever).

I remember discussing with my father about playing guitar with his teeth (''Izabella''). He told me: ''just plat it with your hands''. He was not wrong, but he never saw Jimi played on tape. I did. And I will always do. You should really have a look to this brilliant set.

The closer you come to the end of the first DVD, the more impressed you should be. As of the fantastic version of ''Voodoo Chile'' starts up to ''Hey Joe''. It is probably one of the best live moments I have ever lived in my life. What a glory to have them available some thirty years later!

If you want to have a deeper overview in terms of music, I wrote a description of the double CD release which memorizes this wonderful set.

As I have said, the history kicks out with an incredible version of ''Voodoo Chile''. One of his all time best. Represented here in a unique and wonderful version. The legend starts here IMVHHO. MEMORABLE.

VERY few live performances can compete with this one. It is unique. It is unmatched. It is Jimi.

He was very cool during this huge concert: only listen to the band intro during the wonderful verion of ''Voodoo Chile'': ''Before We Leave, let me just tell you the name of the group; It was our first little gig. Our name is ''The Sun & Rainbows'' but you can call us ''Band Of Gypsys''.

Another famous phrase of course is the next one: ''You can leave if you want, we are only jamming, that's all''. And what a jam follows my friends!!!!

The incredible version of ''Star Spangled Banner''. What a discussion item at the time: the sound of the bombings on Vietnam coming out of Jimi's guitar! These are moments which can only speak to a certain generation to which I belong.

This is a huge set, I told you. The best from the master as far as I am concerned.

There is a second DVD in his set. It is a black / white version of the whole set being shot in black and white. A great addition is the version of ''Hear my train A Coming''. I will describe this one a little later. When time allows.

As such, this Woodstock concert is phenomenal. My fave of the big man of all times. On op of it , images remain from this legendary set. I guess that you got the picture: five spangled stars. This is a UNIQUE recording. I can only recommend you to get it, listen to it, watch it. And potentially review it as I did.

Five stars of course.