Cat.no: PALMDVD 3013-2

Cert: E

Running time: 71 minutes

Year: 2000

Pressing: 2000

Region(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (UK PAL)

Chapters: 8 plus extras

Sound: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 (Stereo)

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Widescreen: 16:9 (1.77:1)

16:9-enhanced: Yes

Macrovision: No

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £15.99

Extras : Scene index, Trailers, Interview, Picture gallery, DVD-ROM content

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Director:

Ian Watts

The Performers:

Baaba Maal
Daande Lenol
Ernest Ranglin
Ira Coleman
The Screaming Orphans
Choir Connexion

Baaba Maal: Live at the Royal Festival Hall is one of the first five concerts filmed, recorded and mixed specifically for DVD, featuring Baaba Maal and his backing band Daande Lenol - which translates as "Voice of the People" - and comes in both DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound formats, as well as a traditional stereo version.

The concert was filmed on six digital cameras and the sound was recorded by using 48-track digital equipment. If that's not enough for you, the concert also features special guests Ernest Ranglin, Ira Coleman, The Screaming Orphans and Choir Connexion.

The film is presented in an anamorphic 16:9 ratio - unlike the Region 1's 4:3-cropped ratio - and looks very good indeed with plenty of colour and no noticeable artifacts. The average bitrate is a good 7.50Mb/s.

The sound fares even better with two major sound formats - Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 - and one with which to blast your neighbours. A plain stereo option is also available.

Extras :

Chapters & Trailers :

1. Gorel

2. Ca et La

3. Koni

4. Cherie

5. African Woman

6. Douwayra

7. Souka Nayo

8. Hamady Boiro (Yele)

Languages & Subtitles :

And there's more... :

The DVD-ROM content features music samples, info and rough-looking video clips of a range of Palm Pictures produce: Sly and Robbie, Baaba Maal, Mocean Worker, Ernest Ranglin and Kora Revolution.

Menu :

I didn't think a concert of African music would grab me that much and I was right, but if it's your bag then this is definitely worth a look and also note that we get the 16:9 widescreen version, unlike the Americans who have it cropped to 4:3.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2000.