Diana Krall: Live in Rio BD

[j_garcia]

I was excited to see this release but after seeing the set list, I wasn't so sure I wanted to buy it. Thanks to Netflix, I was able to watch this one this week and I'm kind of glad I didn't just go out and buy it for exactly my original concern: is it fresh enough to warrant a purchase? The set list is different enough from the previous Live in Paris DVD, but still fairly typical of one of her sets IMO.

The video seems to have some grain to it at times, on what appear to be very long distance zoom shots, but overall the video quality is quite excellent. The shots of Rio itself are absolutely stunning HD video.

The Audio quality of the dts-HD track is also a bit odd in that there were some times where it seemed like I was missing something. I could see her sweeping the keys, but I didn't here that sound as obviously as I would have expected. Then at other times, you could hear the faintest of sounds as she move the mic or adjusted something or made comments away from the mic. I was impressed with the envelopment of the overall track and her voice sounds as lush or luscious as I expected.

There are a few excellent extras as well, with Diana doing a small unplugged session in a local restaurant. This was almost better than the concert itself, and is practically worth the rental alone if you are a fan.

This one is good as expected but manages to feel like a bit of the same. I enjoyed it, but I would say rental only on this one unless you are a huge fan of hers.

 

[john72953]

I'm not a super-huge Diana Krall fan, but since I didn't have any of her work in any format I took the plunge and bought this Blu-ray. I have mixed feelings about it and it probably won't get the viewing/listening time as many of my other concert BD's will.

As a piano player, Diana is absolutely marvelous and extremely gifted. To me it seems like she was born to play jazz and knows her craft inside out. Her voice I would say is marginal at best. And I say this as I don't get a sense of emotion when listening to her vocals. I think her naturally shy nature, which comes across in her lack-lustre and un-involving stage presence, also plays a strong part in her lack of vocal prowess. It's a shame really as I believe she is one of the most talented jazz piano interpreters.

I won't really comment on the video aspect of this disc, as that to me is only a secondary concern. I thought it looked perfectly fine and had no issue with any sequance of film throughout.

All in all, I thought it to be an enjoyable disc, but it didn't capture me completely. As such, I'll most likely only bring it out now and again.

John

 

[PENG]

One thing I noticed from this disc is that the double bass for some reason sounds like it has the lower octave filtered out. My Live in Paris DVD does not have this weakness at all.

Next time I watch Rio I am going to try the regular DD/DTS tracks instead of the HD tracks to see if it makes any difference.

 

[j_garcia]

Her enthusiasm is a bit subdued and I have come to expect that from her. Her voice is amazing IMO, but the presentation of the songs does tend to be a bit monotone. She does appear to be having a good time most of the time, but she keeps her emotion visibility to a minimum for some reason, that gives that less than spectacular stage presence. The way I see it: if you've seen one of her shows, you've seen all of them because she doesn't really change things up aside from the tracks and no matter how good you are, that only goes so far.

 

[PENG]

The way I see it: if you've seen one of her shows, you've seen all of them because she doesn't really change things up aside from the tracks and no matter how good you are, that only goes so far.

I have all 3, Paris, Montreal and Rio. You are quite right, they are all similar but Rio is in Blu Ray so I have to have it.

 

[jliedeka]

I have this BD and since it's my only Diana Krall concert, I like it. I especially enjoyed the rooftop acoustic numbers. For me it was worth the purchase.

Jim

 

[PENG]

I thought the double bass sounded thin so I tried the DD track and it was stil the same. Then I decided to checked the settings in the AVR and noticed that the Audyssey distance check showed something weird. Instead of showing the Subwoofer at 12.8 ft, it shows Surr Back 12.8 ft. It did not show the Subwoofer at all. I scrolled down saw that it showed also Surr.Back L and Surr Back R. This sure looked like a software glitch to me. I then re-run Audyssey auto setup and this time all the parameters look fine.

I am playing the disc again now and the double bass sounds fine. Really weird...

 

[Lordoftherings]

'Diana Krall: Live in Rio' - Blu-ray Disc Review link.

I got the DTS DVD and also the CD of 'Diana Krall: Live in Paris', and I just love it; in particular the DVD version in multichannel DTS audio.

* But here's 'Diana Krall: Live in Rio' on Blu-ray Disc - Review:

@ http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Diana_Krall_Live_in_Rio_on_Blu-ray_Disc.shtml

 

[shepsan]

I bought the Blu-ray disc and enjoyed the performance very much. This disc is not a reference source for either audio or video quality. Neither factor is among the best available. Nevertheless, for sheer entertainment, it is hard to find a performer with such dazzling talent.

Diana Krall's Live in Rio voice performance shows that she has completed the transition from club singer to a mature Peggy Lee like style of unique breathiness and phrasing. Her piano gymnastics and caresses are magnificent and bring new life to beautiful compositions.

It is obvious that the Rio performance lacks the same type of dynamic energy of earlier times. However, this is simply because Diana's laid-back bosa nova arrangements lulls rather than excites. This is not a fault but instead an explanation of fact.

Observing just how captivated and bonded her audience reacted, shows that Diana Krall knows her audience and fits her performance to them. This being so, she achieved complete adulation from those in Rio. I might add that while viewing and listening to this Blu-ray in my entertainment room, I felt the same way as her live audience, mezemerized.