Diana Krall – Live In Rio (2008/Eagle Blu-ray + DVD)

 

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

 

 

Diana Krall started her career as a Jazz vocalist/pianist in 1993 and has been one of the most successful performers in her field ever since, though to the mainstream public, she is still not as well known as she should be at this point.  However, she is about to produce the next Barbra Streisand album and her Live In Rio concert is now out in both the Blu-ray and DVD formats.  The concert shows her at her best singing the following:

 

1)     I Love Being Here With You

2)     Let’s Fall In Love

3)     Where Or When

4)     Too Marvelous For Words

5)     I’ve Grown Accustom 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 & 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

 

 

The true test of a serious talent besides outright performing is how they handle standards and covers.  So many falter at both, but it can be especially painful with the latter, but Krall manages to do a fine job on Walk On By, S’Wonderful, The Boy From Ipanema and Every Time We Say Goodbye.  She is also great with the audience and her love of music easily translates into her work.  This is a great chance to be introduced to her if you have never seen her in action or heard her work (and known it was her for that matter) before, but Live In Rio only has minor lapses and is recommended.

 

The 1080i 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image on the Blu-ray shows the limits of that older HD format, but the mixing/editing of concert footage with outdoor footage of Rio is a great idea that works in the favor of this program.  Unfortunately, that footage can look flat, while you get detail limits and some noise issues here and there, which is the same and weaker on the anamorphically enhanced DVD.  Still, when it looks good, it looks good.

 

The DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) lossless 5.1 on the Blu-ray is barley better than the regular DTS on the DVD, but both sound really good and the recording is fine enough throughout to really enjoy the music.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in both formats is weaker, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on the DVD even weaker still and PCM 2.0 Stereo on the Blu-ray weaker than expected.  Extras on both versions include a Music Video for The Boy From Ipanema and an interview, while the Blu-ray adds a Rooftop Session.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo