DVD: The Incomparable Lena Horne
(Jazzmemories)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Her status as a cultural icon sometimes obscures her remarkable talent these days, but make no mistake - Lena Horne is a remarkably talented performer in a number of arenas. Those talents are amply displayed and engagingly explored in this documentary film.

While the documentary itself offers a fine overview of Horne's career, the special features on this disc make it a real treasure. Among a variety of galleries, musical clips from her film career and other clips and features, the extras include the full length 1938 film, "The Duke Is Tops." The story line follows the ups and downs of a singer's career and provides the setting for performances by other noteworthy early African American performers. From Teddy Wilson to Jimmy Lunceford, Bill "Bojangles Robinson to Albert Emmons, the musical performances in the film make it a valuable addition to your library.

I don't want to dwell on it further, though, because ultimately the real feature is the documentary, and it's an excellent add to your jazz video shelf on its own.

© 2005 - Shaun Dale