Search - Three Worlds, Three Voices, One Vision / Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, Konstantin Wecker on DVD

Two Worlds, Three Voices, By Alecos Benroubis

Alecos D. Benroubis | ATHENS, Greece | 02/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a 58 min film of a concert held in the city of Xanten, Germany (circa 1988) with Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa and Konstantin Wecker. They are supported by a band with musicians such as Wolfgang Dauner, Charlie Mariano, Colin Hodgkinson and others.
Let's start with the ladies. The Argentinean born Mercedes Sosa sings mostly Chilean and Peruvian music. Sosa is a very imposing figure. Here she sings effortlessly four beautiful songs: "Como pajaros en el aire", "Polleritas" "Maria, Maria" and "Gracias a la vida" (with Joan Baez). Definitely a great singer with an impressive, colourful voice.

Joan Baez is the epitome of elegance. Mature, in total control of her means, her voice ripe, sweet and SO clear, she sings "Farewell Angelina", "Ellas Danzan Solas" (a song for the mothers and wives of those persecuted by the Pinochet regime) and "Gracias a la Vida". And she dances. Oh yes; at one point she puts down her guitar and dances to the sound of "Anna Blume" played by this excellent band. Joan Baez really shines here.

Faced with these formidable ladies who sing latino, Konstantin Wecker struggles with some kind of pop-rock music in german. Well... he is out of context and simply doesn't make it. His set is too long ("Wieder dahoam", "Der Himmel brennt", "Be Bop Rock", "Wenn der Sommer" etc, etc) and takes a lot of those 58 minutes. If this was a rock concert it could be ok, here it leaves us asking for more from the ladies.
To sum up I would give 5 stars to Mercedes Sosa, 5 stars to Joan Baez, 3 stars to Konstantin Wecker and 4 stars to the band"