Elly Roberts reviews
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
(Special Edition with Bonus DVD)
Distributed by
Concord Records(EMI)
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 7243 8 758771 0 6
- Running time (DVD): 29 minutes
- Released: January 2005
- Region(s): All, PAL
- Sound: Dolby Stereo
- Languages: English
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Disc Format: DVD 5
- Price: £9.99
- Rating: 10/10
When Ray Charles died on 10 June 2004 he left behind a huge legacy.
He accrued 12 Grammy awards between 1960 and 1993, with this CD/DVD being
nominated for a massive 10 Grammy awards this year. Acquiring the tag "genius",
Ray Charles Robinson was born on 23 September 1930.
He single-handedly
invented Soul music by bringing together the fervour of Gospel, the secular
lyrics and narratives of Blues and Country, the big-band arrangements of
Jazz, and the rhythms and improvisational possibilities from them all.
The net result was both sophisticated and spontaneous, (all found here)
releasing his eponymously - titled first album in 1957. Those entire eclectic
influences turn up as the stars come out to play on his final studio recording.
Born into abject poverty in Albany Georgia and raised in Florida, he began
playing piano at the tender age of five. At six he contracted glaucoma, which
went untreated and eventually left him blind.
He studied composition (writing music in Braille), he also learned to play
alto sax, clarinet, trumpet and organ while attending St. Augustine School
for the Deaf and Blind from 1937 to 1945.
Big guns like Elton John, B.B.King, and Willie Nelson turn
up on his final recording sessions of this generational cross over, turning
it into a real melting pot of genres. The synthesis of established and new
performers makes this a charming and endearing collection as he draws on
all his eclectic styles.
There are some great renditions and musical moments
particularly from B.B.King, Natalie Cole, Van Morrison with all songs
perfectly suited to their individual talents. Charles does fail to impress
on the odd occasion – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, and Do I
Ever Cross Your Mind.
However he does excel on my favourites, including – Sweet Potato Pie, Fever -
with Natalie Cole giving a world class contribution, the awesome It Was A
Very Good Year with Nelson’s sharp country lilt, Sinner’s Prayer
with BB, as the pair play off each other in a perfect Bluesy manner. Final
song, a live recording with Van Morrison is a real mutual appreciation
society number, closing a magical experience for them and me.
The DVD features interviews and snippets of the sessions with Sir Elton John,
and other CD contributors, as they all exude the rightful plaudits of their
hero. It aso includes some wonderful and revealing interview/workshop sessions
from 1985.
Further snippets are from the biopic Ray (Universal Pictures) starring
Jamie Foxx, showing how he struggled with his visual impairment and his groundbreaking
fusion of R'n'B and Soul, trying to convince industry moguls of his passion for
being an innovator. It’s followed by a superb audio-only Latino-jazz collaboration
with Poncho Sanchez on Charles’ Mary Anne.
His life was a true rags to riches story. Triumph overcoming tragedy. Light
transcending darkness. He fought harder and went further. This CD/DVD is a
fitting epitaph to a legend in his own right.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
