The Jazz Channel Presents Brenda Russell

Watching this BET Jazz Central entertainment special, filmed in Washington, D.C. in 2000, I suspected that Brenda Russell, an undeniably gifted musician, writer and arranger, might in fact be more comfortable behind the scenes in session work with talents such as Elton John, Bette Milder, Sting, and Barbra Streisand, or writing songs for stars like Luther Vandross and Oleta Adams, rather than performing live. Though Russell sang a total of 13 songs, including "Piano in the Dark," "Get Right," "So Good, So Right," "Catch On,” “If Only For One Night,” "In An Ideal World,” and “Love And Paris Rain,” with a competent backup trio and talented studio musicians, her stage presence seemed stilted, and her vocal range didn't quite seem to measure up to the music's demands. As an extra, the DVD features a “Meet the Artist” interview with Russell shamelessly hawking her (then) new album Paris Rain (which later bowed to mixed reviews). Optional. Aud: P. (N. Plympton)