Lightning In a Bottle, A One Night History of the Blues is just that. The star-studded list of old school and new school blues performers is just too numerous to list here. Performances are given in chronological order giving the audience a nice clear picture of the evolution of the genre. Between each performance is a little mini lesson on who these blues pioneers were, where they came from, the obstacles they had to overcome and how they influenced the next generation of blues performers. Starting with Angelique Kidjo’s powerful performance of a West African folk song at the beginning to the more modern electric blues performances at the end, this concert is what one performer called “real special.” IMO, an understatement if there ever was one. Some of my favorite performances here are, just to name a few: Natalie Cole singing “St. Louis Blues”; a very happy Bill Cosby being serenaded by a trio of beautiful blues divas; Buddy Guy taking to the stage with his trademark polka dot guitar to cover Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” (where we get to see some concert footage of a wide-eyed Hendrix at Buddy’s feet in a moment of sheer and joyful idol worship); Shemekia Copeland’s and Robert Cray’s duet of “I Pity the Fool”; and the magical pairing of Angeligue Kidjo and Buddy Guy on “Voodoo Child.” These performances are the reason God invented the skip back button on the DVD remote. And if India.Arie’s hauntingly beautiful and sad rendition of Billie Holliday’s’ “Strange Fruit” doesn’t take your breath away and send shivers down your spine, I suggest you check your pulse.

They’re not all winners in my book and I do see a few flaws. Chuck D. and the Fine Arts Militia attempt to turn John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” into a political anthem/rap song (pleeeze!)is the reason God invented the skip forward button. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad but this is after we get teased with some old black and white footage of John Lee himself, acoustic guitar on knee, big foot slapping the floor, giving us the real deal. (Why mess with perfection people? WHY?) Occasionally the history lesson bleeds into the performance such as in the case of Buddy Guy’s “Red House” cover and we miss some of what’s happening on stage but this doesn’t happen too often or usually for too long. These are very minor criticisms of an otherwise incredibly great thing.

Lightning In a Bottle is not just a concert or a musical event; it’s Blues 101, a blues party, a blues family reunion, a musical journey, and a history lesson rolled up into one. The stellar performances coupled with the brilliant stage and camera work puts this one way over the top. I Pity the blues-loving Fool who hasn’t seen it. ( )