Earth, Wind & Fire

Given the amount of concert DVDs that Earth, Wind and Fire have issued over the years, Live In Japan may seem superfluous. Shot during a creative low point — the tour for 1990’s mediocre Heritage album — Live In Japan is a mesmerizing concert nonetheless, made particularly poignant since it features EWF’s avatar Maurice White, who has since retired due to Parkinson’s Disease, in one of his last live performances. Classics like "September” and "Shining Star” are all present and accounted for, with the awesome bass of Verdine White and Maurice’s remarkable kalimba touches. Philip Bailey is in fine throat as well and if the visual effects and then timely nods to new-jack beats and some stilted MCing (particularly and most irritatingly, during the epic "Reasons”) seem dated, it makes the payoff of "That’s The Way Of The World” even more timeless. Live In Japan is a compelling testament to Earth, Wind and Fire’s continuing legacy that no fan should be without.