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Double live performance on DVD & CD

Tori Amos: Live At Montreux 1991 & 1992 is killing two birds with one stone by presenting the lovely songstress in two different performances all on one CD and one DVD, so I’ll do the same by reviewing both at once. The CD and DVD are basically identical with the exception of three songs: the 1992 versions of “Crucify,” “Silent All These Years” and “Happy Phantom” do not appear on the CD due to lack of space.  All three songs are first performed in 1991 and are basically the same, although Amos changes things up a little when she performs, giving them each their own life and identity.

Other songs performed both years include “Precious Things” and “Winter,” a song written for her father. She also likes to perform a very cool version of Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You,” but in ‘91, she performs the song on its own. In ‘92 it is preceded by “Whole Lotta Love.”

At the risk of irritating Amos or her fans, and I state this semi-apology due to some public and common knowledge of her past, Amos almost looks as though she’s making love to her piano when she performs. She plays with her body facing the audience, straddling the piano bench, for the most part, while she runs her pale fingers up and down the ivories. She reminds me of rock guitarists such as Hendrix, Frehley, Page and others who seem to have a sensual bond with their instrument.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is quite different from the way most pianists play - facing the keyboard and only turning to the audience in between songs. Amos faces her audience, smiles to them, jokes with them and pays attention to them. So-much-so that in the beginning of the ‘92 performance as she opens the show with “Little Earthquakes,” she stops right in the middle as if it were part of the performance to ask if people came to talk or listen to music. I assume someone was chatting and not paying attention to her. She asks the question in a friendly, joking manner and then simply returns to the song.

During the beginning verse of “Happy Phantom” Amos actually stops during the ‘91 performance as she tries to remember some of her own lyrics. She laughs it off, starts over and continues. The ‘92 performance has no problems. Both are just as entertaining, but the ‘91 version shows that even professionals make mistakes and she’s able to move forward and not freak out.

The ‘91 show also includes “Crucify,” the tawdry “Leather,” “Upside Down,” the acappella “Song For Eric” and the symbolic song, “China.” This is a song that I like, for the most part, but have never really dug the high-pitched little vocal bridge that she does in the middle of the song. Some may like it, but it’s just not my thing.

The ‘92 performance contains the acappella song “Me and a Gun,” a very disturbing song that has an extremely strong message. The show ends with a cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” In ‘92, Nirvana was lighting up the airwaves, for better or worse, but this was a potent song to perform at this stage of her career. Especially to an audience who came to hear Jazz and here is an adorable, yet fiery performer playing a Grunge song with understandable lyrics and giving the song some volition.

Despite Amos’ joking with the crowd or discussing a little about what a song might be about, she doesn’t stick around for any adulation. After the ‘91 show, she steps away from the piano and just walks off the stage one she’s done. She attempts the same thing during the ‘92 show with the exception of a wave. She is held up at the stage door by promoter Claude Nobs as he stops her, gives her flowers and congratulations and asks the crowd to give her a round of applause. She smiles, but seems like she isn’t comfortable without having the piano readily at hand. None of this is obvious, of course, by listening to the CD.

Some of the songs Amos performs during the two shows had never been performed before an audience or played on a record. Some of those same songs are now classics of her repertoire, but Montreux was handed a precious gift with some of those performances. They also saw and heard a woman who had a lot to say within the context of some songs that display some of the ugliness of life, yet performed in a beautiful manner. Thus is the paradox that is Tori Amos.

Both the CD and DVD contain a nice little bio and interview insert within the case. The CD contains 16 songs and the DVD contains 19. The DVD is widescreen and can be listened to in PCM Stereo, Dolby Surround 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround Sound.

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