It's been quite a few years since progressive/pop band Ambrosia were a recording act-since the mid 80's to be specific, so this DVD might come as a surprise to many who thought the band had long since packed it in. Now mainly a nostalgic touring act, Ambrosia, minus original singer/guitarist David Pack, make yearly appearances on the concert circuit, and this DVD is mostly filled with recent backstage interviews, soundcheck footage, and a few live in- concert clips.
Founding members Joe Puerta (bass/guitar/vocals), Christopher North (keyboards) and Burleigh Drummond (drums) are joined by newer members (most of whom have been with the band over 10 years) SHEM (vocals/guitar/bass), Doug Jackson (guitars/vocals) and Tollak Ollestad (keyboards/harmonica.) Together, the three original members and the newer bucks perform the old Ambrosia staples like "Biggest Part of Me" and "How Much I Feel" very well (SHEM is an excellent singer) and give the more progressive songs like "Mama", "Time Waits For No One", and "Holdin' On to Yesterday" a good ride. Jackson especially has some serious chops, perhaps more so than original guitarist Pack.
Unfortunately, live performances take a backseat on this DVD, as most of the songs are not even shown in their entirety, and much of the time is spent with band member interviews with the attractive yet at times overly giddy host Alex. Many of the questions asked are very run-of-the-mill (when did you start playing your instrument, how old are you, what equipment do you use, how did you happen to join the band) but it is neat to hear Joe Puerta talk about some of his early prog rock influences, namely Yes and King Crimson.
So, if you are looking for vintage Ambrosia live footage, better go elsewhere. But, if you are a fan of the band, and are interested to see what they are up to these days, this might be worth seeking out.
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