DVD Review: Luis Vargas - Santo Domingo Blues

When I sat down to watch Luis Vargas : Santo Domingo Blues, I was expecting a concert by one of the truly big names in bachata. But that's not what this DVD is about. As nice as a concert would have been, this film is much, much better.

Luis Vargas narrates the history of bachata using colorful scenes from the Dominican Republic and New York, interviews with the biggest names in the genre and lots of music clips from all of them. The film is at times philosophical ("Grey hairs come from suffering and being hot-blooded") and unexpected (watch Vargas play the guitar with a beer bottle) with scenes that are both racy and touching.

As Vargas himself often says: "Check it out, baby"!