Bonnie Raitt and Friends (with Bonus DVD)
Judging from her two live releases, this and 1995'sRoad Tested, everyone's favorite slide-guitar-playing, rootsy redhead loves working with other musicians. Generally known for raising the visibility of older blues and R&B legends such as Ruth Brown and Charles Brown, she invites more contemporary stars Ben Harper, Norah Jones, Keb' Mo', and Alison Krauss along for this set. Recorded during a September 2005 evening, this slick CD/DVD package catches Raitt and her muscular four-piece on tour supportingSouls Alike. Perhaps not surprisingly, the setlist is heavily weighted to that album, with nearly half the selections drawn from the disc. Although those songs are well played, they don't differ markedly from the studio versions. It would have been more interesting to cherry-pick older, more obscure material from Raitt's extensive career. Regardless, the duets work well in a restrained VH1 way, with Harper the highlight as he lays into the gospel "Well, Well, Well" and the double-barreled slide showcase "Two Lights in the Nighttime." Raitt's in fine fettle throughout, slinging stinging slide solos and singing with her usual emotional fervor.Oddly, the 52-minute CD version of the 17-song, hour-and-a-half video omits the lovely Norah Jones-assisted "Tennessee Waltz" and Alison Krauss's hoedown on "Papa Come Quick." The professionally shot DVD expands the sound to surround, but nearly mars the generally fine set with excessive camera movement; garish, obtrusive lighting; and a brash, hyperactive video background that is, at best, distracting--and more often undermines Raitt's earthy performance and classy collaborations with her band and musically amiable guests.--Hal Horowitz