Diana Krall: Live in Rio [Blu-ray]

Diana Krall: Live in Rio [Blu-ray]
by David Barnard

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Blu-ray details

Actor: Diana Krall
Director: David Barnard
Brand: Universal Studios
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 149 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2009-05-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Ent

Blu-ray Reviews of Diana Krall: Live in Rio [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray Review: OK, but no gesamtkunstwerk.
Summary: 3 Stars

Urgency, drama, poignancy--all of which I hear in the Sinatra/Jobim bossa nova recordings (two albums plus a television special)--are replaced in this set by color, casualness, even a touch of "home-iness" (several singalongs). Of course, the latter are all illusions, as Krall is one of the best prepared, most tightly rehearsed, perfectionist artists in the business. Her piano chops are fine-honed to to the point of virtual flawlessness, if at the expense of some excitement and spontaneity. She'll never be a "stand-up vocalist," but she has worked hard enough on that facet of her talent to be one of the more compelling (though hardly virtuosic) voices in the music today. Perhaps Diana herself wishes to be taken less seriously as a vocalist than as a pianist--how else to explain her crossing her legs while singing a couple of the numbers?

Perhaps her most noteworthy achievement on this date is to make it all seem so relaxed, so easy, so natural (the "just-got-up," careless fall of the hair, the sleepy eyes, the intimate rapport with the audience--all this on a concert stage while surrounded by a hundred musicians or so--it's the mark of a supreme actress who knows how to play equally to the camera and the crowd but also the signature of a performer sufficiently talented to exude this much confidence.

By contrast, her steadfast team of Hamilton and Clayton look, if anything, somewhat nonplussed alongside Diana (though Clayton does his best to provide an ingratiating smile). Perhaps what I'm seeing is what happens to all of us after age 50 (I can recall few drummers who projected a more commanding presence than Jeff Hamilton driving the Woody Herman Herd). No doubt Buddy Rich and Ray Brown were the exceptions--both seemed to register increasing confidence and unflappable supremacy with each passing year.

Guitarist Anthony Wilson, as the only other melodic voice of note, is especially key to the "jazz" interest of the group, though his rapidly ascending patterns occasionally get lost in the translation. Hand-drummer, Paulhino Da Costa, is gracefully balletic to look at, though his sonic contributions, at least on my system, are often hard to pick up. The orchestrations are worlds apart from a Nelson Riddle or Johnny Mandell but at least manage to avoid sounding intrusive or schmaltzy.

The only "life" in the proceedings occurs with the introduction of the Nat Cole Trio numbers. A couple of misfires, at least to my ears' perception, are "Too Marvelous for Words" (Johnny Mercer certainly had nothing in mind like this soporific version, which is tantamount to replacing love-struck wonder and speechlessness with a sentiment more like "words require too much effort to express your attractiveness") and "Walk On By" (which, with its repetitious and constricted melody combined with a deadpan delivery, sounds stolid--even a bit like martial music--"March on By"?).

Nonetheless, this is undeniably highly listenable, pleasant music. More questionable is whether it's worth the expense of time, attention, and cost of a Blu-ray edition. Despite the lovely interspersed shots of Brazilian life, there's not much to look at--unless you can't get your fill of Ms. Krall's admittedly handsome features. Moreover, the hi-definition is, at best, inconsistent. As mentioned, the audio is less than stellar, and the available light shots of the audience in the dark auditorium are mostly all grain (visual "noise" photographers call it). The cutting (from shot to shot) ranges from curious to disorienting (at a couple of points making the featured performer look like she's doing a ventriloquist act when the words suddenly show no synchronization with lip movement). Better to pick up the CD and let your mindscreen provide the pictures. (Tip: Don't overlook the "bonus" tracks shot in a hotel lounge with just vocal, guitar, and Hamilton playing brushes on his lap--in many respects, it's more satisfying than the big show.)

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Description of Diana Krall: Live in Rio [Blu-ray]

Diana Krall has had a long time fascination with bossa nova, a type of music, which perfectly suits her sophisticated yet sensual style. This culminated in her new studio album "Quiet Nights" (released by Verve in spring 2009) and in this stunning concert filmed in the home of the bossa nova, Rio de Janeiro, in November 2008. Accompanied by her band and an orchestra, Diana Krall delivers a superb set of standards in true bossa nova style but clearly bearing her unique stamp. This Blu-ray captures Diana Krall at her scintillating best.

TRACK LISTING:
1) I Love Being Here With You
2) Let's Fall In Love
3) Where Or When
4) Too Marvellous For Words
5) I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
6) Walk On By
7) Frim Fram Sauce
8) Cheek To Cheek
9) You're My Thrill
10) Let's Face The Music And Dance
11) Every Time We Say Goodbye
12) So Nice
13) Quiet Nights
14) Este Seu Olhar
15) The Boy From Ipanema
16) I Don't Know Enough About You
17) S'Wonderful
18) Exactly Like You

BONUS FEATURES: "Quiet Conversations" - interviews with Diana and her band in Rio de Janeiro. "The Boy From Ipanema" - promotional film for the track from her new album filmed in Rio.

Blu-ray Exclusive! - "The Rooftop Sessions" - Four additional tracks filmed in Rio:
1) The Boy From Ipanema
2) Too Marvellous For Words
3) Cheek To Cheek
4) Quiet Nights

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