Diana Ross Live - The Lady Sings... Jazz & Blues (1992)

Diana reigns supreme

I have this concert on VHS, taped from TV when it was broadcast here in the nineties. I loved the whole show, especially the breathtaking, beautiful 'Strange fruit', performed a-cappella by Ross. I desperately want this once in a lifetime concert on DVD, but the only copies available are region code 1. Why on earth isn't this released in all region format? February 24, 2008

The Lady Delivers...

This concert was filmed in 1993, when Diana was beginning to free herself from a youth-oriented music industry while continuing to take chances with her career. We're invited into a small jazz club in NYC, and the lady delivers. She's gorgeous and spunky, putting a new twist on her "Reach Out & Touch" routine by venturing out into an adoring audience for a few songs, beginning with "Lover Man, Oh Where Can You Be". She appears a little nervous prior to this, but the love of her fans help her really relax beginning with this song, and it's a wonderful ride from then on. She, the band, and the audience have a ball with "Give Me A Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer", and her versions of "Little Girl Blue" and "There's a Small Hotel" (as Diana gestures to her then-young sons in the balcony" are heartfelt and true. She brings it all home with "Strange Fruit" and "My Man", as only she can. Any criticism of her vocals and comparisons to more traditional jazz vocalists are unfounded -- no matter what the genre, Diana Ross delivers and puts her own unique stamp on any song. So dim the lights, pour yourself a drink, and allow one of Detroit's finest to give you a performance you won't soon forget. February 23, 2008

STOLEN MOMENTS

THE ONE AND ONLY...THERE HAS NOT, AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER!!!
THE ORIGINAL , " D " FOR THE TRUE DIVA. THE VOICE, THE FACE , THE STYLE ,AND THE GRACE. HER CHARM, THAT SMILE AND CLASS .YOU WILL ENJOY AND CHERISH THESE STOLEN MOMENTS. AND YOU WILL WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOUR DEAREST FRIENDS. THE LADY.....SINGS AND GIVES OF HERSELF. SIT BACK AND RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR STOLEN MOMENTS WITH THE BOSS!!!! November 5, 2007

Diana, Goddess of the Moon (but not of the jazz world)

Almost 35 years later, I had to reassess Diana's portrayal of Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings the Blues," for which the critics and jazz press gave her a lot of flak. My awakening was the recently issued "Blue," which consists of the "out-takes" from the movie. More than was the case in the movie, the tracks on the recent CD show her careful homework in capturing the phrasing of Lady Day. So compelling was the music, in fact, that I next went to this DVD, a fairly recent concert by Diana, once again doing the Billie Holiday repertory and accompanied by an orchestra of jazz all-stars. It's not as convincing as "Blue," yet it bears testimony to her considerable talents as an actress, a commanding stage persona and magnetic presence, and a musician who, like Lady Day, uses her somewhat limited vocal equipment to maximum effect. At the same time, versatile she may be, but the performance also proves she's no "jazz singer."

The DVD should appeal mightily to all fans of the former R&B princess-diva, filling the screen in shot after shot of undeniably appealing eye candy. And better to catch her on video than to be one of the adoring male fans who, rather than act their age, literally swoon on camera when Diana catches their eye or proffers her cheek for a kiss. Besides the close-ups (and music) there's Diana leaving the stage to work the audience for extended stretches, the song little more than an excuse, along with other visual shtick and seemngly unprogrammed moments. And if you know your jazz, you'll appreciate some great shots of musical heavyweights like Barry Harris, Urbie Green, Jon Faddis, Ralph Moore, Roy Hargrove, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Jerome Richardson.

Still, it's probably best to admit that Diana's voice is a far cry from Lady Day's (and most other jazz singers). She approaches this material as the accomplished actress that she is: it's apparent that she doesn't completely trust the material (and perhaps her voice) as a jazz vocalist must, so she falls back on her other talents, not to mention the eye-candy factor. Her performance works best when you see her tearing up on the ballads, smiling on the up-tempo numbers, accepting kisses from her aging male worshippers, and simply commanding the stage like a regal empress who still knows how to be accessible. If there's a single irritating quality about the DVD or CD of the event, it's the overdone, "faux" reverb added to the featured performer's voice--as if to serve as a constant reminder of the superstar prevailing in a big, cold world. Sort of like Judy or the less talented Liza overcoming all the obstacles and scoring another triumphant comeback at the Paladium or Carnegie Hall. (Oh, the drama!)

In terms of the programming the one egregious miscalculation is the use of Lady Day's "Fine and Mellow" as the "big" production number to open and close the show--almost as downright insensitive and ignorant as if Diana were to perform "Strange Fruit" uptempo with a kick-line. Given the emphasis on the darkness of the venue, the happily swinging and winking "Oh What a Little Moonlight Can Do" would have been the perfect ticket, equating Diana (mythologically the Roman goddess of the moon--get it, show producers?) as the source of lunar luminescence in the cavernous darkness of the set. Or even "God Bless the Child" at a Blood, Sweat and Tears tempo would have felt right.

If like most Americans you don't really know much about Billie Holiday or own any of her records, don't assume that her "Fine and Mellow" ever sounded remotely like it does on the Ross extravaganza. Do yourself a favor: pick up the mid-fifties telecast, "The Sound of Jazz," which has Billie doing this spare 12-bar blues as a musical conversation with Lester Young. Once you recover from the shock of hearing the greatest jazz singer of them all for the first time (and I've seen the disappointment in new listeners dozens of times), keep listening, again and again. Once you "get" it, you'll understand what jazz is all about, not to mention a lot of other things about America's unwritten history. September 24, 2007

Diana the Jazz Singer

Diana Ross showed her fans and audiences around the world, that she was capable of singing Jazz and Blues when she portrait the life of Billie Holiday in the Movie Lady Sings The Blues released in 1972, it was a great joy to hear her voice interpreting those songs from the 30's and 40's sang by a great singer of the time, with a different freshness, and this DVD,CD verifies that she still great in this category. Winning several awards for this production, best seller as well and great reviews, it is a must in your collection of Diana Ross CDs and/or DVDs, you will enjoy it immensely, great voice, great costume changes, expected of this lady at every concert, shows great feeling and talent. Has some surprises, a performance by her daughter Rhonda Suzanne, also a great singer and the talents of Gil Askey the musical director Diana had since her days with The Supremes, and other musicians that showed their abilities playing those wonderful tunes. May 13, 2007

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