Rating: NN
If you liked Seu Jorge’s radical Portuguese-language revisions of David Bowie tunes in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou or you really enjoyed the Brazilian favela soul singer’s lively show at the Lula Lounge last September, this dull concert DVD documenting a lacklustre 2005 Montreux Music Fest appearance might not be something you need.
Remaining seated alongside his accompanying musicians (bassist Ricardo Feijão and percussionists Pretinho da Serrinha, Nene Brown, Mudinho and Carneiro), Seu Jorge seems preoccupied throughout the 10-song set used to plug his new Cru album. The director wants to get his money’s worth for the multiple camera shoot and makes annoyingly frequent cuts from hands slapping pandeiros to Seu Jorge’s dreads to the cuica hand drum, perhaps trying to make up for the lack of excitement onstage.
There’s minimal perspiration during the hour-long performance, and very little in the way of audience participation. Seu Jorge himself can’t be bothered to hang around for the woefully boring percussionist feature finale that makes the last five minutes seem like hours. If you were hoping for him to return for an encore of a Bowie number, forget it. Our boy Seu was probably already in the limo heading back to the hotel before the applause even started.
Hopefully, Seu Jorge will put a little more passion into his Toronto Jazz Festival gig at Harbourfront Centre Friday (June 30).
