21st Century Schizoid Band Live In Japan
The 21st Century Schizoid Band isn't doing badly for a group that's never come close to charting a record anywhere, getting out two releases in a single year, a self-titled debut plus this DVD package from a November 2002 concert. To call this the fulfillment of a dream would be putting it mildly on several counts -- for starters, anyone who missed the original King Crimson on tour in 1969 at last has a chance to see as well as truly hear drummer Michael Giles playing in concert (welcome as the Crimso historical releases from 1969 are, they're not remotely state of the art in quality) and even bringing a new song, "Progress," to the table; Giles' more enigmatic brother Peter Giles on bass; Mel Collins, a saxman's saxman, playing this repertoire live; and Ian McDonald, the original jack of all trades in the Crimso lineup, doing what he does best (i.e., a little bit of everything). Everyone in this band plays like they're at the top of their form and having the time of their lives -- Collins is clearly the heavier-weight reedman in comparison to McDonald, but the latter gets his embellishments in as well, even on the numbers where they're both blowing sax. "In the Court of the Crimson King" is fascinating to watch just to see the amount of switching off that McDonald does between flute and keyboards. The band also does slightly later Crimso repertoire, such as "Formentera Lady," which is stretched out with a lyrical opening on bass and flute and a newly melodic treatment in the main body of the song -- the song is mostly Collins' showcase on flute and sax, while McDonald moves between various keyboards and reed instruments in support. McDonald and Michael Giles each get lead vocal showcases, the former on a newer song called "If I Was," which is a good match for the older material, although perhaps a little more obviously pop-oriented -- they also resurrect two McDonald & Giles songs, "Tomorrow's People" and "Birdman." Strangely enough, one doesn't miss Robert Fripp at all -- Jakko Jakszyk knows the sound and the style (he grew up with it) and it's his natural musical language. In addition to the 96-minute performance, which is beautifully lit and benefits from highly mobile camera work, the disc contains fairly extensive interview material totaling about 20 minutes; each of the members explains his involvement with the band and the meaning of the material. Strangely enough, Jakszyk may have had the biggest percentage of his life involved with the music of anyone present, as he discovered King Crimson when he was 11.

Screen Ratio: 16:9
Audio Tracks: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo
Running Time: 100 mins

TRACKS LISTING:
 1 Schizoid Intro
 2 A Man, A City
 3 Cat Food
 4 Let There Be Light
 5 Progress
 6 In The Court Of The Crimson King
 7 Formentera Lady
 8 Tomorrow's People
 9 If I Was
10 Ladies Of The Road
11 I Talk To The Wind
12 Epitaph
13 Birdman
14 21st Century Schizoid Man