DVD - Bonnie Raitt: And Friends

Not sure if this is a DVD with a CD bonus or the other way around! As there are 17 performances on the DVD and only a subset of 12 on the CD let's go for the former  .
R&B purists might mot be that interested in this release but anyone who has made even a cursory visit to the Shades site will know that we're big Raitt fans. Bonnie's music is steeped in the blues (especially country blues) and although in her later recordings she's embraced a much broader musical palette, the blues is never very far from the mix.

This 2005 concert has it's fair share of bluesy material, with both Keb Mo and Ben Harper providing suitably engaging guest appearances. Keb guests on 'No Gettin' Over You' and 'Love Letter' (only the latter appears on the CD). The Ben Harper duets are particularly fine, 'Two Lights In The Nighttime' showcasing Harper's great, idiosyncratic slide work and 'Well, Well, Well' featuring great acoustic work from both him and Bonnie. Overall, probably the highlight of the show.
Most of the material Bonnie plays with her touring band comes from the then recently released "Souls Alike" CD and there are great performances of 'I Will Not Be Broken' and 'God Was In The Water' amongst others. Other guests at the gig include Alison Krauss ('You' and ''Papa Come Quick') whose fiddle work adds to the mix quite nicely; and Norah Jones, who duets with Bonnie on 'I Don't Want Anything To Change' and a strangely affecting 'Tennessee Waltz'.

Anyone who's seen Bonnie Raitt live knows that her concerts rarely disappoint but this is a timely reminder of how good both she and her current touring band still are. Given the guest appearances, it would have been interesting to hear the partnerships tackle some of Raitt's extensive back catalogue, but as this was a tour on the back of the "Souls Alike" CD I guess that was never likely. Perversely, the CD omits some of the best performances, including the fantastic 'Well, Well, Well' and 'Papa Come Quick' (with Alison Krauss) - buy this for the DVD of the concert and treat the CD as an added bonus. The DVD "Extras" include interviews with all the performers.

October 2006