Kenny G – An Evening Of Rhythm & Romance (Eagle Blu-ray)

 

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

 

 

Kenny G is the kind of artist you either like or not.  I don’t dislike him and he has talent, yet I am not the biggest fan as my coverage of this recent hits set shows:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3330/The+Essential+Kenny+G+(CD+Set)

 

 

Now comes a Blu-ray concert shot in High Definition called An Evening OF Rhythm & Romance, where he plays songs like:

 

 

1)     Home

2)     Silhouette

3)     Havana/percussion solo

4)     G-Bop

5)     You’re Beautiful

6)     Forever In Love

7)     Rhythm & Romance

8)     Sax-O-Loco

9)     Besame Mucho

10)  What A Wonderful World

11)  Pick Up The Pieces/bass solo

12)  Cadenza

13)  Songbird

 

 

I have to admit that he has some showmanship on camera and it does take guts to do what he does and play it for a big room of people.  His instrument is not always a celebrated one in an era of post-modern noise and sampling, yet here he is a big success and hanging in there.  This is for fans only, but some moments are not bad.

 

The 1080i 1.78 X 1 image is colorful and has its moments, but it is too often soft and the limits of the HD camera(s) used often cause background problems and distortions.  The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 mix is a little better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM 16/48 2.0 Stereo tracks also offered, but this is a somewhat sonically limited concert and oddly so considering this was made in late 2008.  Compression is an issue in the sound mix and the soundfield is never fully realized.  Extras include an illustrated paper pullout inside the case with an essay and info on the concert, an on-camera interview, Introducing The Show and four Bonus Christmas tracks in Deck The Halls, 12 Days Of Christmas, Dreaming Of A White Christmas (aka White Christmas) and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo