Brian Setzer - Christmas Extravaganza

I will simply echo the superb reviews here on the content itself. So much fun to watch and listen too. I don't dance but man does this disc make me want to! Superb music for the holidays or year round for that matter. I wanted to mention that this disc is not region 2 PAL, it's region 1 NTSC that plays on US players. I bought 6 for myself and family. You need to get at least 1!

Brian Setzer has always been fun to watch and listen to. Now he's got a swing band backing him and even jazzier guitar licks to play. The downside to Setzer is and has always been his often blatant artistic derivation which is weirdly accentuated by these Christmas songs. I enjoy Setzer. I really do. If you can't have it all(and you can't), have fun and go for the money is the motto ! Now to the show. Great production values. I love all the Christmas songs but when 'The Dirty Boogie' comes relatively early in the show, I get a little creeped out. What if junior asks you, 'Daddy What's This Song About ?' It's not just the lyric. It's the sinister tone of the song along with it's early arrival in the set that I question. I would have played 'Let's Live It Up' instead and left the darker side of Christmas for later when all the little kiddies are tucked neatly into their beds or at least sleeping on their own accords. Okay, mostly good to great things from there. The 'Stray Cat Strut' is medleyed with 'Mr. Grinch' to good effect. The curtain goes down on the swing band and Brian rocks the house in a trio to even better effect. I particularly enjoyed 'Jean & Eddie'. On 'Blue Christmas' he employs a small brass section and his two 'Vixen' backup singers 'blonde & brunette' in sexy Santa outfits to a very Elvissy rendition of the tune. The absolute pinnacle of the show is 'Rock This Town' which starts out as a 3 piece 'Stray Cat' number and finishes off as a full blown swing band arrangement. Simply fantastic ! The 'Nutcracker Suite' is interesting too. I was hoping for an interview with Setzer but instead you get footage of him arranging 'My Favorite Things' with his piano player. A telling moment is when Setzer plays a chord he can't name so the piano dude has to figure out what it is. That's what piano dudes are there for I guess. Not much time in Setzer's world for chord theory. I don't know why you wouldn't want this DVD. I mean what's not to like about Brian Setzer other than he obviously doesn't like talking about himself. Which may be a good thing !

I purchased this dvd last Christmas and find myself watching parts of it every week or more. This dvd always finds its way back into my dvd player. This is by far the best Christmas concert I have ever seen or heard. Brian is the best guitar player out there in my opinion. Nobody and I mean nobody comes close to rockin these Christmas songs like Setzer and his big band. You can find many metal bands, country bands, pop bands etc. But there is only one Brian Setzer Orchestra and they are in a catagory all their own. Check out Sleigh Ride on this disc, they absolutely tear it up. The Nutcracker Suite is a masterpiece, this song alone is worth the purchase price. Will Murillo on trumpet and Tim Misica on Saxaphone are both incredible musicians. This big band is unbelievable and with Bernie Dresel on the drums it just can't get any better. Setzer is old school all the way from his hair and wardrobe to his vintage Gretsch Guitars. This a MUST for any Christmas music lover or anyone that likes music for that matter. Buy a few of these and hand them out as early Christmas presents so people can enjoy it all the way through the season. There are lots of artists out there that sell out stadiums and get lots of publicity, Setzer blows them all away when it comes to pure talent. He is a musicians musician. Don't miss out on this dvd!

great show. I have seen it live twice but he is not coming to town this year so this dvd will have to hold me over for another year

Some people think they'd buy a Christmas CD or DVD and think they wouldn't play it very much because it's seasonal. But, I'll tell you what. Out of all the DVD's that I have (nearly a 1000), I'll bet that I play this one more often than any other DVD that I have. Why? Because, when you watch a movie that you own, you may never immediately watch it again if you happen to have hundreds of other movies in your library. Think about it. You may have 10 movies that you'd call your favorite films. And everyday, when you look at your vast collection, you see your favorite movies, but, it may have been 3 or 4 years ago since you've watched them last. Right?But, if you had this fabulous Christmas concert of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, you will be watching it every year around Christmastime. Plus, this is the DVD you may watch a few times around Christmas Time because you will be sharing it with your family and friends. I seldom ever watch this DVD alone, because it is great family entertainment to have on during your Christmas parties.Here, Brian Setzer performs with a fabulous and energetic back-up orchestra playing not only Christmas songs, but some songs of his own BSO catalog, plus some of his Stray Cat tunes. Remember, "Rock This Town", "Sexy and 17", and "The Stray Cat Strut"? He performs these songs and his Stray Cats tunes while performing with his orchestra.If you have the DVD of "Stray Cats: Rumble in Brixton", and The Brian Setzer Orchestra's "Live in Japan", then you will truly love this Christmas performance from 2005. This DVD makes for a great gift too, and I believe it's available on CD too.Merry Christmas my fellow Brian Setzer/Stray Cats fans!

What a terrific surprise this concert turned out to be. I rented it first but was so pleased with the entire production (performance, sound, color, music, length, etc) that I eventually purchased it and now it is the definitive Christmas concert that we play every Christmas season. It's fun, it's spirited, it's joyous, it's just a blast. In style, reminiscent of the 50s or 60s but very much a contemporary take on the classic Christmas concert. Don't miss this one. You will love it.

I like big bands, I like rock and roll and rockabilly. What could be better then than Brian Setzer and orchestra ? Well I tend to dislike "seasonal cheer" and false bonhomie. Setzer and the band are actually as good as ever but for the two reasons listed I rate this below The Setzer Orchestra's earlier DVDs.For anyone who has not heard the combination of Setzer's brilliant guitar and the top class musicians who make up the Orchestra I would thoroughly recommend this however, but do listen also to the earlier DVDs.

I cannot play this item on my UK (Region 2) DVD player as the item received is Region 1 (USA), therefore not as described in the Product details

VERY PLEASED. THANK YOU.

¡Excelente orquesta!

Excellent !