Customer Reviews

Natalie Cole - Ask a Woman Who Knows

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take some great singing, a big band and talent from one of todays best jazz vocalist Natalie Cole...and you have "Ask a Woman Who Knows", a collection of classic jazz, with todays best and greats in the field of live entertainment. This DVD is reminicent of the "Unforgettable" outing, as Natalie reunites with producer Tommy LiPuma. Some very treasured tunes that are not heard frequently with arrangements by Rob Mounsey, Alan Broadbent and John Clayton. The result is lush-velvet strings and blends of brass echoing the tempo and mood of the tune.

Some stand outs come to mind ~ "SO MANY STARS", from the pens of Sergio Mendes/Alan & Marilyn Bergman leap from the page, with a haunting performance by Natalie that leaves you wanting more ~ "SOON", this George Gershwin standard was a favorite of mine back when Jacklie Gleason and Bobby Hackett blazed a trail of hit albums in the '50s, but when Natalie sinks her teeth into this one, you've heard the best from todays best ~ "I'M GLAD THERE IS YOU", another favorite from my days of listening to Johnny Mathis, the arrangement on this CD lends to atmospheric blends with Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn ~ "BETTER THAN ANYTHING", joined by Diana Krall, Natalie and Krall give their fans a rare lyrical treat ~ "MY BABY JUST CARE FOR ME", not only is this a classic song, but a classic performance by a classy gal.

This is just like being there with 18 tracks performed live in London...mixed in 5.1 and Stereo, simply outstanding...also includes two bonus tracks "MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW and "I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT". Exclusive interview with Natalie Cole that have many insights into her life and performances, gotta love it!

Total Time: 90 mins ~ Hip-O/Universal 440-065-564-9 ~ (2003)

This DVD is good for a relaxing evening of jazz oriented sounds and the pleasant views of Ms. Cole, her guest, and musicians. The entire DVD seems to be geared towards those of us who value peace, relative quiet, and a meditative experience. I love Natalie for doing this concert. It's where I go when I want to escape to paradise...with someone who "knows."

From the look of this wonderful concert, it's hard to believe that Natalie Cole is a 50-something diva who gleefully aped Aretha Franklin and Nancy Wilson in the 1970's. Looking beautiful and at least fifteen or twenty years younger, Natalie Cole gives a low-key but stellar performance here. This concert features mostly a set of wisely-chosen show tunes from "Ask a Woman who knows," her latest album of standards following the tradition of "Unforgettable." I actually caught the "Unforgettable" show at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, where Cole gave one of the best concerts that I have ever seen. This show is similar in that Cole gives the same kind of no-frills performance, focusing squarely on the music and the business of showing off her terrific jazz chops! A major highlight of "Ask a Woman" is the appearance of Diana Krall, who makes does a marvelous version of Gershwin's "S'Wonderful" and her own excellent bossa nova take on Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin". Equally fine is her "Route 66" duet with Cole. To the discerning ear, Cole's voice may seem a bit more nasal than in her younger days, but she has lost none of her vocal range or elasticity; she sings with the same gusto and strength as she did back in the day. On stage, Cole has a very warm and relaxed stage presence. She gives a near letter-perfect performance--even rocking the house near the end with her first big hit "This Will Be." Other highlights include her swaying bossa nova interpretation of Michael Frank's "Tell me All About it" and the swinging standards "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and "Beginning to see the Light." The only false note in the concert is her version of "Calling You," a much-covered (by everyone from Cole to Patti Austin to Barbara Streisand) song from the 1988 movie "Baghdad Cafe." Cole seems out of her depth on "Calling You" (the original version remains the very best). Nevertheless, her pedigree speaks for itself and she rightfully claims it. Indeed, there is nothing left for Cole to prove. "Ask a Woman who Knows" is hugely entertaining!

Natalie Coles talent shines through and through. So does the band and the orchestra. Great horns. Beautifully shot. Great recoding.

Natalie Cole is a class act.
I loved this album. She is a great singer with terrific arrangements, and a great choice of songs. I would highly recommend this album. She can sing it all from jazz, ballads to swing. And, what a nice touch to do a duet with Diana Krall,...another class act.

There are surprisingly few good jazz dvds out there these days. Diana Krall Live in Paris is one of the best. This one is mighty good too. And as a bonus we get Diana making a guest appearance for 3 songs. I gave the Krall dvd 5 stars (see my review), so a little surprised to see Natalie outshine Diana here. Natalie sings with more energy and style, and a touch more soul. This is a great performance, with the help of a swinging band that can really belt it out. Sound quality is first rate, although in dolby 5.1 rather than newer dts (I sure could not tell any difference). In widescreen too, which is also nice. Song selection is good, but could have been better. A few tunes are more soul/pop, which I think takes away from the jazz theme. A minor quibble...this is still a must have dvd. I give it 4 1/2 stars.

This exclusive PBS musical is easily Natalie Cole's best comeback in spotlight after the UNFORGETTABLE 10 years ago, her reunion spell with producer Verve record label Tommy LiPuma is no less as diva-ish as ever. The same titled album equally saw Cole in a recognised new height the same year, better still she's not doing a tribute to her great Dad but sparkles on her own.

Cole effortlessly adds glamour to live jazz with her great swinging vocal and natural womanly sophistication. The crowd adored her throughout the show and allowed her to flirt with the moments such as during ASK A WOMAN WHO KNOWS, TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT etc. Because "this is the evening for the ladies but you gentlemen were just invited in..." she said.

Not just the band and the music, the costumes for Cole were manificient too in the evening. She completely exudes her great status of dressing in some of the best, curvy evening gowns, from the opening I HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING TO DO to MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW.

Then came the wonderfully cool Diana Krall. Merely a few seconds of welcoming applause the room was quickly turned in to a new level of atmosphere in her exquisite piano along solo 'S WONDERFUL. Cole joined in for the following duet ROUTE 66 - the only Nat King Cole tribute in this show. She's now incredibly sexy in white lace with black crystal-shimmering leggings and t'was a perfect match with Krall in black silk and jeans, lovely!

Other highlights in the evening are: Cole's self-styled I'M A WOMAN, I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT, CALLING YOU the 1998 Academy winner, and BETTER THAN ANYTHING another duet with Krall.

A must-enjoy DVD.