|
|
|
In Stores February 5, 2008.
The idea to record Jill Scott in Paris was one of those almost impossible ideas to pull off with the limited time available when the thought first came up. Jill was already on tour in Europe nearing the end of the run. In fact, the first serious conversation about recording a show took place the Wednesday before Thanksgiving about recording the two shows in Paris the upcoming weekend. Initially the idea was to make an audio-only recording of Jill’s flaming-hot band and European run in support of her second studio album “Beautifully Human.” On Thanksgiving Day, Thianar Gomis, the eventual producer of the project, had the even crazier idea with the short timeframe to pull it off, of trying to shoot video of the performance in addition to capturing a pristine audio recording. Low and behold, two and a half days after it was all brought up, we were all in a chilly PARIS with equipment at the ready.
With the camera crew fairly well hidden in head to toe black, and clearly instructed by Jill not to be seen nor heard from, the cameras were carefully tucked away; not to intrude in any way on the intimate exchange between audience and artist. We recorded 2 shows back to back at the historic Elysee Montmartre, a grand old venue which contained the standing room only, sold-out crowd. The first night Jill delivered her usual classic and special performance. Head and shoulders above most in her generation, Jill left this Parisian crowd speechless as she burned up the stage with her intelligence, uncanny vocal ability, and passion. After the first night, no one was mad about the decision to record and it was clear that we had something special in the can - then came night two.
Everyone on tour with Jill had grown accustomed to her brilliance night after night, but knew almost from the beginning that a different current of electricity in Paris was shooting through to everyone in the building. Some of her crew, who had at this point seen her do just about everything, were standing in the wings speechless like star-struck fans. Moments in the building, seemed to those there, moved as in slow motion as everyone concentrated hard to preserve every moment of the experience. On the second night during Jill’s classic “I Need You,” the massive 19th century hall was so quiet it seemed that everyone in attendance was collectively holding their breath, not to disturb the air as she reached her climax. The extraordinary rendition of “Golden” embodied here which followed it. Take a look for yourself at what happened during the solo. Jill’s extraordinary band - Fat Back Taffy - walked off the stage sharing stories of the outer body experiences they all seemed to have had while playing this remarkable set. Fresh from a fun leisurely shopping day, walking and taking in the magic of Paris, Jill herself was in an exuberant space but still asked her familiar “Really?!?” after witness after witness reported to her what they had just seen.
With the whirlwind of the Christmas holiday season that followed the tour, as well as several technical questions that arose, this special recording was initially overlooked with other urgent priorities looming. Not one to simply accept the initial technical questions as fatalities, Thianar teamed up with engineering and mixing savant Thierry Migeotte in a painstaking process that consumed almost the better part of a year. Thianar and Thierry worked on the audio portion of the recording daily, for over 7 months. Never adding a note or altering the reality captured by the machines, these two huddled in the studio with a commitment almost unseen in today’s music business. At the same time J.G. Biggs, the director, spent time with the “hidden camera” footage and came up with the mondrian effect on telling the story visually. When Thierry and Thianar finally emerged from the studio, they presented an absolute audio masterpiece that created a buzz in the studio engineering Los Angeles community.
Person after person was ushered down to listen to Jill’s work of art performance presented and preserved like a work of art. Those who got a chance at this sneak peak, never experiencing Jill live, found often themselves with the same goose bumps the original audience had and in certain occasions their eye ducts filled with tears like those who were moved in person. When Jill herself came into the studio almost a year after this process began to hear what the mad-scientists had resurrected, she sat there in stunned disbelief. She had previously often remarked how she had wished she could have the experience of seeing herself live in person from the audience’s perspective. The clarity, passion and singing through the speakers in the small darkened studio on a bright spring afternoon were probably as close as she’ll ever get. Quite speechless, Jill’s dumbfounded look was very similar to those watching her when the recordings were made. She listened closely for self-perceived mistakes that she thought she remembered on stage but couldn’t find them; they never existed. Sitting in the reclining studio chair, dead-center between 2 powerful monitors, she could listen to every nuance of her remarkable band and concentrate on them without the thought of pleasing an audience. When her attention went to the high-art musicality of the artists on stage with her, her eyes often exploded from a tightly clenched closed eyelid to the wide-eyed expression of a child believing they had just seem a ghost. In fact, Jill walked out of the studio mumbling the same chant over and over, “I thought this was dead?”
Later, one by one, several members of Jill’s band came in to hear the tracks. Most didn’t remember everything they played and a couple of them remarked that they heard things they didn’t know they were capable of playing. Pete Kuzma, the band’s music director and only keyboard player in the group even asked “was there another keyboard part added to the recording?” When he examined the individual tracks for himself he could hardly believe it was him communicating such polar opposite thoughts at the same time that it seemed like two people. His chant was “Oh my God this is so special, we’ve got to put it out!” Fast forward now 2 years and the timing is finally available to share this exceptional recording with those who should appreciate it most - Jill’s fans.
Fresh off of the release of her critically claimed, third studio album, “The Real Thing”, this disc goes into production just after her 3 Grammy nominations have been announced. This recording underscores why she’s so special and deserving of such critical acclaim and gives evidence to the fact that she should soon be receiving much more. We hope you enjoy this wonderful disc, the first DVD form Hidden Beach and the first in a series of “Hidden Beach Basement Tapes” of
previously unreleased recordings which deserve to be devoured by the public.
Enjoy!
Steve McKeever
LIVE IN PARIS+
1. The Way
2. Whatever
3. The Fact Is (I Need You)
4. Golden
5. My Petition
6. Bedda At Home
7. Rasool
8. He Loves Me
LIVE AT HOUSE OF BLUES
1. Crown Royal
2. Hate On Me
3. My Love
4. All I
DOCUMENTARY
Featuring Jill’s fans on the streets in Paris
LIVE IN PARIS+ (Audio)
1. The Way
2. Whatever
3. The Fact Is (I Need You)
4. Golden
5. My Petition
6. Bedda At Home
7. Rasool
8. He Loves Me
Post this banner on your blog or myspace page. Copy and paste code is below.
Preview The DVD » | Purchase Standard » | Purchase Deluxe DVD+CD »
Copy & Paste the Code Below:
June 24th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Walked out of Jill Scott Concert My husband and I saw Jill Scott tonight in Richmond VA. She is one of the best female vocalist, very animated and has the prettiest smile ever. However, to our dismay the sexual gestures, comments and profanity overshadowed her as a great artist. We wasn’t aware her live show would be characterized by this type of illicit behavior. In her own words “Im nasty”. I suppose we’ve always been lured in by her melodic voice and great instrumentation. We will be more thorough in listening carefully to each and every word before we waste money on great seats for a show that we felt was too inappropiate to stay and watch. Such a shame Jill because your band and vocals was at a level 10 certainly exceeded my expectations, but the sexual content of your show caused us to walk out. I so wanted to stay because I truly value your vocal ability, but I value my bible- trained conscience more.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Ms. Scott you are the best, simple the best , you made me love my self again. How to respct,who made me and under stand why he made me , and take my life back and give it back to GOD,”Ihave come along way, I have had cancer, my lung has collaps,and I have bipoularmaic badly, it cause me to have sever,mood swin. but I can list to you music , and feel alrigth, thank you Ms.Scott
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Love your music! Keep doing what you do. Look forward to seeing you on tour when you coming to Atlanta?:)
May 4th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I love Jill Scott where can I find the t-shrit Jill has on in live in Paris?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I loved this set, as I have loved all of the performances that I have seen or heard, but I was disappointed that the tracks from the House of Blues were not included on CD. I have played the set of “All I” more times than I can count. I hope that you release those at some point or make them available for downloading.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I just bought this FABULOUS dvd/cd 2 weeks ago and am LOVING IT LIKE CRAZY. Jill has so much talent and soul. I can tell and see that she put her heart and soul into this. It was almost as if I were there in Paris. Thanks to you, Ms. Scott and the people responsible for spear-heading this project. Looking forward to many more smooth sounds to come from JS.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
How can I get one of those tee shirts Jill was wearing on her Live in Paris concert?
I really enjoyed the CD and the DVD
Lynda
March 21st, 2008 at 7:11 am
France and Jill…what a combination! Two entities of what a black woman really is..passionate and powerful. This is one of most historic moments in Soul Music history. Having no musical boundaries, I knew that “He Loves Me/Lyzel ” has the potential of always going deeper, closer and freer. Verbally, I was at a loss when I saw this; Spiritually, I was rich and loud–celebrating how love and life expierences and deep melodies notes can marry jazz harmony and produce a baby named Jill.
God is pleased when He sees his gifts used exetensively. Keep livin’ and lovin sistah Jill. Thanks for letting God use you to showin’ the world what’s inside all of us..the ability for we to be us.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Miss Scott -
You got it going on! I play the Live in Paris CD at work every day with my hand over my mouth - don’t want to try and scream out the beautiful melodic notes that you sing. Want you to know that I purchased the CD/DVD combo from an Ashley Stewart store. Your music is so inspiring and you are so real. As I watched the DVD and saw how you related to your audience, it was captivating. I definitely would like to see one of your concerts live after seeing this DVD. You hit home with your latest rendition of “The Fact is (I Need You)”. You absolutely had a beautiful dream when you composed this song - all brothers (men period) should be inspired to do their utmost best after listening to this song.
Will be looking thoroughly through this website for your concert listings - prayerfully you will soon be coming to Upstate SC (Charlotte, Atlanta) area soon. May God continue to bless you. You are a great talent.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I just can’t get enough of this DVD it is just amazing I have told all of my friends abt it, I am going to have a conversation piece party and will have this playing in the background ttrust and belive all of those women will be going to purchase this CD/DVD I just love her voice live, it is music therpy to me, I LOVE YOU JILL, DONT EVER STOP WHAT YOU DOING
PEACE LUV NAPS :MIA:
March 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
OMG! Jill, Jill, Jill! I truly appreciated this DVD, I mean it from the bottom of my soul! It was like sitting in Denver waiting you all over again. I still get the chills, tears, and joy of what you bring to music! Its the real thing! That’s for sure!
February 15th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The Live version of the song Rassoul, “IS THE BOMB!!!! I would love if Jill came out with an extended version of it.
The concert was tight!! I did miss the original version of He Loves Me, but as Jill has moved on in her love interest it is understandable she would want something fresh and new to break the mold. I would have loved more tracks…I was into it deep and poof it was the end of the 8th track. No complaints just suggestions. I know the concert had to end and everyone had to go home, I guess I’m just hooked on her VIBE!!!
Hungry for more…KEEP EM’ COMING BABY:):):):)
February 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I purchased Live in Paris on Thursday. I have not been able to stop listening to it. I was very critical of the last cd, but this has restored my belief in just how good Jill can be. I love everything about this cd. Everyone needs to experience the exceptional talent that is Jill Scott. She is the best of this generation!
*U*
February 14th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I just joined the hidden beach family…. And i just went to Grove Aneheim to see the artist Jill… I dont know what to say, i feel my words arent good enough to explain jill… She is everything that would go threw my head on those nights on my wet pillow soaked from my tears. I thought these things before i even knew she existed. When i was in Aneheim Rhaheem came to my table and that was great!! but i prayed that Jill would come to the audience. My favorite song is “I need You” and “whenever your around” and i would tell you why but i respect there is other fans that want to be read to. I REALLY HOPE THESE GET READ CAUSE IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IMPORTANT TO FANS TO BE HEARD AND HOW THEY FEEL. I love you Jill and really hope i get to meet you one day. You would be so surprise with what i would like you hear and see.. Its a blessing… Thank God for you
February 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
[...] Preview The DVD » | Purchase Standard » | Purchase Deluxe DVD+CD » [...]
February 6th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
[...] Preview The DVD » | Purchase Standard » | Purchase Deluxe DVD+CD » Previous Post « FREE Screenings Tonight In Los Angeles, CA & Silver Springs, MD Next Post [...]
February 6th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I have been waiting for a Live Jill Scott DVD for years. This live experience on DVD is truly amazing. Jill illustrates true artistry, talent, passion, and excitement that will never be duplicated. There are not too many artists that sound better live than the actual recording CD and this is a must see! Treat yourself, Don’t Cheat yourself!. Jill keep the energy flowing and continue to motivate… will be looking forward to seeing you in Indianapolis, 03/25.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I bought Jill’s DVD+CD Live In Paris today and I must say, it was amazing. I’ve heard a lot of women sing & perform but Jill, she doesn’t just sing & perform. When she gets on stage she encourages & inspires weather black, white, man, woman, married, single,young or old. So Jill Scott keep doing ya thang baby cause you are The Real Thing!!!!!!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
[...] Preview the DVD | Click Here Previous Post « Celebrate Black History Month with Dr. Cornel West in Atlanta Next [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 11:34 am
enjoy myself
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
whew..wow, i’m nervous about getting this Live in Paris joint! I may pass out!! Jill ,what can I say!! Always fresh and crisp, lyrics sing directly to me ,as if you were standing in my living room!!..I got the perfect Christmas gift..a ticket to see you perform in D.C. March 12th!! Can’t wait…
February 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
[...] Preview the DVD [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I preordered my copy..I can’t wait! I have seen her in concert each time she drops a cd! Heck if I here her hum in the background..I have it! I love my JILL!! Shit..sing the ABC’s and watch me buy it! Work it Jill!!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:43 am
COME TO CROATIA!!!!! WE LOVE U!!!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:01 am
COME TO LOUISVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I am taken by the way Jill speaks of love without it being perverted, the way she poets lovemaking without it being lewd or obscene. She has such mastery of her voice that even if it did come off that way it’d get lost in the glory of her talent. I only wish this had come before Christmas it’d make a wonderful gift. Thank you Jill for sharing, teaching and inspiring us and thank you Hidden Beach for your delivery of such a gift.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Awesome memories! It was like I was reliving some of my life over in her music 30 yrs ago. Just watching Jill Scott perform is as creative as her poetry in music.
She comes out as a down to earth person.
Love “Living My Life”.
January 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I absolutely love Ms. Jill, her words describe my every emotion!!!! She’s the voice of every WOMAN…
January 25th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Every feeling, thought, disappointment a woman has ever experienced is embodied in the words, songs, and music of Jill. She touches the deep part of my soul and exposes my deepest secrets when she sings. Thank you lady keep singing. Thank you Hidden Beach. We need this.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I absolutely love her, she brings reality to life. An artist like Jill Scott is what we all need more of in our lives.
I enjoy the story telling in her songs the music the messages! She has the gift of sharing the best meditation of health in ones life.
January 25th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Jill is an amazing artist & I love her cause she always touch bases with her songs on whats goin on in the world today and in relationships!! There is not a cd of hers I do not own!! u go Jill!! luv u much!! Hidden Beach is the truth!!!