Calle 54

 While “CALLE 54” has been frequently compared to “Buena Vista Social Club”, due to the fact they both deal with similar music, they’re still very different from one another in terms of how they’re both executed and the actual music itself.  Tito Puente, Cachao, and others are on hand here, and mostly they just do what they do best,…they perform!  “CALLE 54” doesn’t try to explore the psychology or culture behind latin jazz, instead it lets the music just speak for itself.   There are some brief interviews, but this is really a performance film.  As far as the performances go, they’re captured well!  The film never feels anchored, and the editing compliments the music without ever restraining it.  There are also some nice supplements here.  Along with a lengthy documentary, there is also an audio commentary with Latin Jazz historian Nat Chediak.

BUENA VISTA has presented the film with its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio and 16:9 enhancement.  There is a lot of grain, but the film still appears pretty sharp in spite of it.  Colors are fine, but they are muted in a few scenes. 

The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is generally quite good, but even when it kicks into full gear, during the musical spots, rear speaker usage is minimal.  Almost all of the music is focused towards the front, and while it sounds sharp, we would have preferred a more engulfing experience. 

 The audio commentary allows Nat Chediak to provide some brief history about the specific performer the camera is focusing on at the time.  A nice benefit is the option to hear the commentary in either English or Spanish! 

 The documentary, running almost an hour long, offers more in-depth interviews with the performers, as they elaborate about who inspired them and their own insight into the music and its history. 

A trailer is also included.