Search - Harry Belafonte :: Returns to Carnegie Hall

A suitable encore to the very famous original concert

S. Baird | Baton Rouge, LA United States | 03/18/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The recording of Harry Belafonte's April 1959 concert is one of the best recordings that RCA ever released in terms of BOTH musical content and sound quality. If you are reading this, then it's probable that you are quite aware of the mesmerizing effect that the performances can have on the listener today, just as they did on that audience almost five decades ago. Belafonte's interaction with his accompanying musicians as well as his audience shows just how well this famous entertainer could lead a program.



In "Returns to Carnegie Hall," Belafonte again brings his great humor and, at times his feeling and introspection to a grateful audience. This time, though, he enlists the aid of the then new Chad Mitchell Trio and the great Miriam Makeba. Somehow, though, the magic of the original concert is missing here. Unlike the original concert, Belafonte doesn't offer us much in the way of live versions of his famous songs. I miss hearing his vocal prowess as he delivers it in "Day-O," or the gentle and intricate intonations of "Jamaica Farewell" that made the original concert release so enjoyable again and again. I find myself skipping through this CD song after song to find the few gems there are here.



Even though the sound quality is quite good, it doesn't quite approach that of the original content either -- even on this Classic Records audiophile reissue. While it does surpass RCA's own CD release, it does not do so sufficiently to warrant paying much more for it than that which is commonly available."