On 3^rd July, 1991, an artist made her debut at the 25th jazz festival in Montreux. No one really  knew who she was. Tori Amos was 27-year-old at that time. Her first solo album 'Little Earthquakes' was not yet released. It was also her first appearance in front of a large audience. She takes on the stage while singing and playing on the piano alone unaccompanied by a band, self-written songs.

A year later, after Tori's release (mainly praised by criticism) her first album 'Little Earthquakes', she appeared again in Montreux, visibly matured and confident. Once again solo on the piano, she mainly presents songs from her album as well as two cover versions.

So if you have heard the songs of 'Little Earthquakes' you would love this set. But even then, watching these two concerts you would love her silky voice take over.

Live at Montreux is an absolutely riveting experience from start to end, but let’s see each year and how great it was for the new singer.

1991: Tori is here pre-fame before her album, It is a lovely, lovely experience to watch Tori work on a space of just 10 songs with only voice and piano. She is riveting, charming, delightful. Her emotions are raw and open and she's clearly just enjoying herself playing these songs. She plays songs like Happy Phantom, Winter not forgetting Led Zepps Thank You. 1992: While not quite as magical as the 1991 performance, this is a second stellar show. Her confidence and enthusiasm spills over and she is more comfortable talking and bantering with the audience. She opens the set with Little Earthquakes, moving to Silent All These Years and Precious Tings, Happy Phantom, three tracks she sang in her 1991 show. She then gets moving to two Led Zeppelin covers (Whole Lotta Love and Thank You) and her signature cover of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. Fans get two performances for the price of one, and without a doubt, Amos' very unique and courageous voice shines through in every one of these songs. If you want to find a way of introducing a new fan to Tori Amos, this DVD is the one. Two songs into the 1991 show, and you can be sure anyone would love her music and be enchanted. By the end of the 1992 show, they might just be a lifelong fan.

Do read the small booklet about the career of Tori Amos's career.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira