Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment EVBRD 33323-9
Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 color, 1080p HD
Audio: English DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD 5.1, PCM Stereo
Extras: 3 bonus tracks by The Ray Charles Orchestra
Length: 88 minutes
Rating: *****
The great Ray Charles had played at the Swiss festival many times since its founding in 1967, but his l997 concert is supposed to be one of his finest ever. It was evidently videotaped in HD and this exciting Blu-ray puts Ray, the five Raelettes and the excellent orchestra right in our laps for 88 minutes.
Ray was in great form, delivering 14 of his big hits, including Busted, Georgia On My Mind, Just for a Thrill, and What’d I Say – the big slam-bang closer with the Raelettes picking up and shaking the five tambourines that had been sitting on the B-3 thru the whole concert. Ray plays a Yamaha X88 keyboard and makes creative use of its vibes, rock piano and strings registers on some of the tunes. A couple of the trumpet and sax soloists in the band turn in some fine solos – especially during the all-instrumental number before Ray comes onstage and in the three bonus selections. The close ups show every single bead of the very extensive sweat on Ray’s face, and the lossless DTS surround captures the impact of the music while involving the viewer with the huge audience in the venue. I found I had to increase the center channel a couple dB to bring Ray’s voice out more strongly from the mix, but perhaps that’s due to my more meager center channel speaker compared to the left and right front towers. You’ll really feel like you’ve attended the actual concert by the conclusion of this program, which I can’t say for many standard pop or jazz music DVDs I’ve viewed.
TrackList: I Don’t Know, Ray Charles Opener, I’ll Be Home, Busted, Georgia On My Mind, Mississippi Mud, Just For A Thrill, You Made Me Love You, Angelina, Scotia Blues, Song for You, Watch Them Dogs, Shadows of my Mind, Smack Dab in the Middle, I Can’t Stop Living You, What’d I Say; bonus tracks: Just Friends, Beatrice, Passeone Blues.
– John Henry
