Bonnie Raitt & Friends (DVD/CD Set)

 

Picture: C     Sound: B     Extras: C     Concert: C+

 

 

Bonnie Raitt is a veteran musician who only recently got the credit and success she deserved.  This included some hit records and in a comeback to rival Tina Turner and Mariah Carey, continues to generate interest and material.  Taped September 30, 2005 at Las Vegas’ Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt & Friends brings together Raitt and guests as diverse as Ben Harper, Norah Jones, Keb’Mo’, Jon Cleary and Alison Krauss for a big concert tied in with the VH-1 network.

 

She does her hit Something To Talk About and 16 other tracks, only 11 of which make the CD version.  Though the concert is good and sincere, I also found it to be restrictive and limited, with no breakout moments for Raitt or any of the guests.  Yes, it is diverse, but there is just something too self-contained and even Alison Krauss and Raitt cannot come up with a big moment despite their serious talent.  It is not that the performers were slacking, but just that the concert was missing that certain something extra that would have made it more of an event to remember.  Fans will still enjoy it, though.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image comes from the original digital High Definition shoot, but is very pasty, flat and dull in this tradedown that is not representative of how good this could look.  igh HIt is very disappointing and is one of the poorest of a long cycle of HD concerts we have covered in recent years.  The sound fares better, with the PCM 2.0 16bit/44.1kHz Stereo being pretty good for the CD formats limits and the DVD offering a fairly good Dolby Digital 5.1 mix.  Even better, a PCM 2.0 24bit/48kHz Stereo track is offered and it is the best of the three options, showing what a good recording this really is.  If only it had the picture to match.  Extras include a stills section and interviews set.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo