Phil Collins: Live and Loose in Paris

If Phil Collins isn't the hardest-working man in show business, he's right up there, at least if this 15-song, 90-minute concert is any indication. The man is nonstop motion, whether seated behind his drum kit, prowling the stage as frontman (the format is in-the-round, so it takes an effort to keep all of the arena-sized audience involved), or, of course, singing the hits (including “Against All Odds,” “In the Air Tonight,” and “Sussudio”). The “loose” part of the title is a bit of a misnomer; Collins' excellent band is unerringly tight, and the performance is well-choreographed while still maintaining some sense of spontaneity. There's no denying the appeal of Collins' drum-heavy, horn-driven, R&B-cum-world music sound, presented here in Dolby Digital 5.0 and 2.0, and if his music ultimately isn't as challenging or engaging as that of Peter Gabriel, the other ex-Genesis lead singer, no one in this Paris audience seems to mind a bit. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)