Music in High Places - India Arie (Live in Brazil)

Rating:
Summary: On Location Masterpiece
Review: "Live in Brasil" alternates between tastefully done interview cutaways in which India discusses her experience visiting Brasil and on-location recordings with some of the most beautiful footage I have ever seen. The first song features India and her band performing knee deep in the ocean. A pleasant surprise was the inclusion of native Brasilian artists performing their music as well as joining India's group for a block party in Brasil, in a place India says reminds her of Brooklyn.

The sound quality and technical production quality of this DVD is excellent, the best I've heard anywhere. India's music on this release is exceptional both for its creativity and for her uplifting spiritual lyrics and beautiful voice. I felt as if I were traveling with India's band and experiencing the music in a fresh new and personal way. The movie concludes with a montage of behind the scenes footage that is sure to please anyone who wants to know more about the craft of cinematography. We see the crew doing their jobs and enjoying every minute of it, with refreshing candor.

If you like India Arie's music you will love this DVD, and for musicians who want to expand their horizons with the flavor of Brasil, this will also be a hit. But the best thing about this movie is its advocacy of cross cultural experience, which is sorely needed in this age of inflated fears about foreign lands.

Rating:
Summary: She got it right!
Review: I have to admit that I had never heard any of India Arie's music before purchasing this DVD. The reason why is because I rarely listen to the radio anymore. It hurts me a little because I don't stay up to date with the newer artist. But sooner or later I get to hear them all. I actually purchased the DVD because of my interest in Brazil. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she decided to do a DVD in Bahia which is one of my favorite areas of Brazil. Her music is actually a combination of folk music and R&B. Although she records on Motown she does not play the Motown sound that most of us are familiar with. Actually her music is quite relaxing but the strength of her songs is definately the lyrics. Her voice is ok but not as powerful as say Jill Scott, Angie Stone or Mary J. The camera work is great and the sound is outstanding. She discusses each song and Brazil thoughout the video. She also features several local Brazilian groups and singers in some of her songs. The videos also feature plenty of sights in Bahia. Her and her band really seem to fit in well with the locals. Music critics like to refer to her type of music as "Neo-Soul" or new soul but let's face it, Bill Withers was doing this type of music back in the 1970s! But it is refreshing to hear something besides rap music from new musical artist. So purchase this DVD even if you are not a fan. The beautiful scenery and relaxing songs help to make this a very good DVD. I should add that although I am a fan of Bryant McKnight, I like India's DVD better.
Note: Several famous Brazilian musicians including Olodum, Ile Aiye and Margareth Menezes stop by and jam with India Arie in the DVD!

Rating:
Summary: The Promise Of A "Voyage" Fulfilled...And Then Some
Review: I love India ("Acoustic Soul" is one of my all-time favorite recordings) and when I saw the title "LIVE In Brazil," I was expecting to see her band blow through another incredible electric set...vocal improvs w/Kerisha Hicks, deliciously drawn-out jams, killer chops from drummer Forrest Robinson, the whole nine.) What "Live In Brazil" ended up delivering was an experience actually far more rewarding.

Seeing India's band perform an unplugged set of "A.S." material would be enough for me. So would a documentary on the wonders of Bahia itself. Put the two together, though, and you got a religious experience, baby. Some of the performances (the band playing "Beautiful" while looking out onto the vast expanse of the ocean under an exquisite sunset, the Baiao-flavored version of "I See The God In You" in the tall grass, a deeply moving solo performance of "India's Song," Arie's heavenly voice echoing throughout the palatial Igreja De Sao Francisco...etc.) literally brought tears to my eyes. The material (all acoustically performed and mostly from "Soul") and setting create a majesty that is altogether beyond words.

Even more affecting was the band's reaction to and interaction with the music, culture, and people around them--India getting downright teary while watching a local musician who reminded her of herself, Forrest Robinson exclaiming "I BEEN REBORN!" after an ecstatic "Video"-turned-Samba-Reggae jam with the legendary Ile Aye in the troupe's hometown 'hood of Curuzu, India and Kerisha getting swept up in song with Margareth Menezes and Olodum...one unreal scene after another--and all beautifully captured. (The extra scenes on Capoeira, traditional music, and behind-the-scenes happenings with the band and crew are merely icing on the cake.)

Arie referred to her time in Bahia as a "reward"--and that's exactly what this exceptional DVD is for the viewer. If you're a fan of Ms. India, Bahia (or beautiful places in general), Brazilian music, or just watching some of the greatest creative spirits on the planet converge, exchange ideas, play some truly classic tunes, and laugh (a lot), all the while living and breathing the time-honored notion that music is indeed THE universal language, please do yourself a favor and check it out. It's the "Voyage" that Arie's sophomore CD may have intended but never fully delivered.

Rating:
Summary: Very very good!
Review: I wasn't a fan of India Arie at all until I bought this DVD. Like another reviewer here, I purchased this DVD out of an interest in Brazil and a general interest in R&B. I find the idea of an American R&B artist collaborating with Afro-Brazilian artists fascinating and much more natural than other cross-cultural collaborations. I think this DVD definitely demonstrates where music will be going, or at least should be going. I agree with the other reviewer that this DVD is better than the Brian McKnight one. There is much more local collaboration on this DVD. The camera works is also superior on this DVD. But the Brian McKnight one is worth purchasing too. Hopefully there will be more DVDs like these!

Rating:
Summary: Very very good!
Review: I wasn't a fan of India Arie at all until I bought this DVD. Like another reviewer here, I purchased this DVD out of an interest in Brazil and a general interest in R&B. I find the idea of an American R&B artist collaborating with Afro-Brazilian artists fascinating and much more natural than other cross-cultural collaborations. I think this DVD definitely demonstrates where music will be going, or at least should be going. I agree with the other reviewer that this DVD is better than the Brian McKnight one. There is much more local collaboration on this DVD. The camera works is also superior on this DVD. But the Brian McKnight one is worth purchasing too. Hopefully there will be more DVDs like these!

Rating:
Summary: A Really Stunning Music DVD!
Review: I've enjoyed India's music for the last year and found this
DVD purely by chance.
I quickly sampled the fisrt couple of tracks and thought
great locations and pictures but the sound is too good
so it can't be a live performance, just another playback job.

On another evening I played more tracks and then discovered
on the end a "making of" section which clearly shows the
sound crew not running a playback system but placing
microphones and recording the tracks.

This whole DVD is about talent.

Great pictures, great sound recorded on location, and of
course India looking and sounding superb.

If you like latin and soul styled music, this is the one!

Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFUL
Review: This DVD is so beautiful, it really shows how spiritual India is. This is a must have in anyones collection.