Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles

Willie Nelson is something of a national treasure, but while ol' Willie undoubtedly has an affinity for Ray Charles' music (he recorded a fine version of “Georgia on My Mind” on his 1978 Stardust album, and worked with Charles as well), this concert reveals that he is not the ideal interpreter of this classic material. Of course, no one should be expected to match Charles' passion, but laidback is one thing, while monotonous is quite another: during the course of this 90-minute show (recorded in 2009 at New York's Lincoln Center), Nelson displays a distressing tendency to flatten out the melodies of every tune—”Hallelujah I Love Her So,” “Hit the Road Jack,” “Crying Time,” “Busted,” “What'd I Say,” “Unchain My Heart,” and others, until they all sound like limited variations on the blues. Norah Jones, who guests on several songs, isn't much help—her duets with Nelson are pleasant enough but will remind no one of the incendiary duels between Charles and Margie Hendricks. Luckily, for backup they have trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and a band that is nothing less than fantastic. Marsalis' playing is uniformly brilliant, combining chops, taste, and humor (he also sings with considerably more fire than Jones or Nelson), and while saxophonist Walter Blanding and drummer Ali Jackson are particularly good, all the musicians are at the top of their game. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, DVD/Blu-ray extras include a behind-the-scenes documentary and a photo gallery. Recommended, overall, thanks to Marsalis. Aud: P. (S. Graham)