Just Let Go: Lenny Kravitz Live

This 2014 European tour documentary draws from several shows, interweaving song performances with interview clips. Although Lenny Kravitz plays most instruments when recording albums, he's backed onstage by 11 musicians, including guitarist Craig Ross, keyboard player George Laks, bass player Gail Ann Dorsey, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana. Ross met Kravitz through Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's, who introduced the two when Kravitz was recording under the name Romeo Blue, and they've been together ever since. While the others haven't been with Kravitz as long, the band's versatility helps make up for the generic quality of the performer's newer material, such as “Dirty White Boots” (“We're gonna get it on in your dirty white boots”) off 2014's Strut, which isn't as distinctive as the songs that brought him to fame in the 1990s, like “Always on the Run,” “Fly Away,” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” (all played here). In terms of musicianship, however, Kravitz and his band skillfully integrate rock with funk and soul, and director Paul Dugdale incorporates interviews with each musician, as well as rehearsal footage. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)