RAY DAY

One of these days give yourself a special gift - a "Ray Day". First go to a cinema near you see why Jamie Foxx won the Oscar in the beginning of the week: he is so perfect that you quickly forget that there's an actor in there - you really think that Ray Charles himself is showing you how was his life. And the whole movie is great, one of those you cannot miss for anything in the world. After, believe me, you will feel an uncontrolable desire: to run to the next record shop and buy the Original Soundtrack Album CD. You'll find there 17 of the best ones, directly remasterized from the original masters. What a sound! I bet you never heard Ray Charles before with this magnificent sound!

And if you still have some money left you can end your "Ray Day" in beauty: look for a DVD called "Ray Charles Live At Montreux 1997". This was his third and final appearence at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and although he always plays as though his life depends on it, you could not have asked for a more inspired perfomance. The set covers some standards, including "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Busted" and "Georgia On My Mind". The most impressive performance on the set, though, is "Angelina", from his 1996 album called "Strong Love Affair". Where the original suffered from over-production and an attempt to incorporate pre-programmed rhythm tracks, this version starts as a solo, and becomes one of the most haunting songs you could hope to hear. The Raelettes, as always, come on for the final third and they are on great form. When "What'd I Say" introduces the finale, the tension is finally lifted and you get the Charles-Raelettes interplay that you have been waiting for.