A brilliant film about The Band's last ever concert in 1976 at which they invited some great artists of the music world to join them on stage.

So ‘The Last Waltz’ is, of course, a feature-length documentary of the final concert of the legendary 1960s and 70s rock group The Band who toured for over 15 years.. This concert was held at Bill Graham’s Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day, 1976.

This is much more than a concert video. It features The Band playing many of its most iconic songs, such as Up on Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, King Harvest (Has Surely Come), The Weight, Ophelia, and many, many others. The concert also features several guest stars, most notably Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, The Staples Singers, and many others. How can you beat a lineup like that at a farewell concert? You can't. This entertainment is the best.

This is an absolutely amazing film especially the way it was filmed, arranged and performed. Martin Scorsese is a brilliant director and his accomplishments are noteworthy. One of Scorsese's best films and a milestone in music films history is what you have here. Scorsese superbly captures the weariness and road fatigue of the Band in the interview sections, but it's the electrifying in concert footage that’s really the heart of the film.

It's unbelievable that there was that many first class musical artists performing along with "The Band" at the final performance of their career at that time. ‘The Last Waltz’ does not only capture a topical moment of rock and music history, but is conceived and shot like a mix of interviews, live concert and dedicated music performances that are photographed and staged.

The DVD captures a quiet and reflective retrospective on The Band’s music, era, lives and influences, with no footage archive but only words, songs and friends. The quality of the footage is spectacular, as are the performances. The immense amount of talent gathered on that stage on that night is astonishing to say the least. The Band sound great, their interplay and changing roles within the band and music, the singing, the playing are outstanding. It is a visual and audio treat for rock music fans.

Bonus Features inlcude 2 Audio Commentaries by the Director and Musicians, Rare, Unseen Footage and a Behind the Scenes Featurette.

For those who want a step by step detail as to who made it to the concert, here you go:

The Band: Robbie Robertson ...Lead Guitar & Vocal

Rick Danko ...Bass & Violin & Vocal

Richard Manuel ...Piano / Keyboards / Drums / Vocal

Levon Helm ...Drums / Mandolin / Vocal

Garth Hudson ...Organ / Accordion / Saxophone / Synthesizers

The amazing musical geniuses, and others that performed as well:

Eric Clapton ...Performer

Neil Diamond ...Performer

Bob Dylan ...Performer

Joni Mitchell ...Performer

Neil Young ...Performer

Emmylou Harris ...Performer

Ringo Starr ...Performer

Paul Butterfield ...Performer

Dr. John ...Performer

Van Morrison ...Performer

Ronnie Hawkins ...Performer

The Staple Singers ...Performer

Muddy Waters ...Performer

Ronnie Wood ...Performer

Michael McClure ...Performer

Lawrence Ferlinghetti ...Performer

Martin Scorsese ...Interviewer

Jim Gordon ...Performer

Tom Malone ...Performer

Howard Johnson ...Performer

Jerry Hey ...Performer (as Jerry Hay)

Richard Cooper ...Performer

Charlie Keagle ...Performer

Larry Packer ...Performer

Enjoy a relaxed evening. Take a shot of your favorite whiskey in hand and enjoy beautiful music for your ears, mind and soul.

Director: ‎ Martin Scorsese

Media Format: ‎ Dolby, NTSC, Color

Run time: ‎ 1 hour and 57 minutes

Release date: ‎31^st January, 2006

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira