JEFF BUCKLEY: GRACE AROUND THE WORLD (2009)
Absolutely brilliant!
Jeff Buckley: Grace around the World is a breathtaking film that showcases Buckley's world tour for his album, Grace, cited by critics and listeners as one of the greatest albums of all time. Jeff, known to many for his rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," was a supremely gifted singer-songwriter in his own right; a tenor with a stunning five-octave vocal range, raw lyrics, and keening songs fully imbued with every bit of his achingly beautiful being. He gave transcendal performances.
Buckley was one of the greatest singers of all time who the world lost too soon. Born in 1966, Jeff died in 1997 in an accidental drowning when he was thirty. He took a night swim in Wolf River Harbor in Memphis and was caught in a swell from a passing tugboat. Keith Foti, a roadie in Buckley's band, was an eyewitness. Foti relayed that Jeff was singing the chorus of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin before he went in the water.
This tribute film, simple but staggering, was made by fans. It highlights Jeff's appearances in concert halls and TV studios, interspersed with some laid back conversations with Jeff, a poetic soul and true artist. There is no pretence to the film, which reflects the man and his music.
I viewed part of the movie with my eyes closed because Jeff's music's sends me to a place beyond words. Watching him perform is an ectatic experience for me; it caught me by surprise. Buckley's music is good for my spirit; a balm and joy in a wayward world.
I wonder how the direction of music might have been affected if we didn't lose this tremendous Troubadour. Jeff, you are loved and missed.
"I don't want my reputation to take me over, I just want to be judged on my songs. I want people to come and see me because they want to, not because fashion dictates it. I don't belong in magazines, I belong on stage, in front of the audience, one-to-one. There's something that happens there. The rest is just crap." ~ Jeff Buckley
