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Video / DVD

Martin Luther King + Jazz

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 16, 2017

Today in the States, it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday since 1986 but not observed by all states until 2000. I thought it would be fitting to hear seven jazz tributes to the civil rights leader and the movement. Each of the jazz pieces that follows is a heartfelt work rooted in the church and King's spirit: Here's John Coltrane playing Alabama on Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual TV show in San Francisco. The song uses the cadence ...

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Video / DVD

Gene Kurpa: Drummer Man

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 13, 2017

Video / DVD

Buddy Bregman (1930-2017)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 11, 2017

Buddy Bregman, a West Coast big-band arranger who could write with sensitivity and swing, and spent much of his career orchestrating music for leading jazz-pop singers, television and the movies, died Jan. 8. He was 86 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Bregman was a nephew of songwriter Jule Styne, which is how he managed to record Gypsy with Annie Ross so early. In short, Styne gave him the music first, before song pluggers began pushing the show's catchy ...

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Video / DVD

Tom Jobim: Melody Master

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 6, 2017

With New York's temperatures down in the 20s today with snow, what better way to warm up than with the late pianist, guitarist and singer-songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim. Millions of people can play his music, but only Jobim had the right time, the romantic heart and the distinct feel. Here are five video clips of the master himself: Here's Jobim in 1964 with pianist João Donato... Here's Jobim at the piano playing Wave... Here's Jobim on an hour-long TV show ...

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Video / DVD

Who Was Eddie Fisher?

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 30, 2016

With the stunning deaths this week of Carrie Fisher on Dec. 27 and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, the following day, the media has been awash in articles on Star Wars, cocaine abuse, extra-marital affairs on the set of Star Wars, depression, Singin' in the Rain, Tammy and the Bachelor, drinking, Elizabeth Taylor and whether a mother can die of a broken heart one day after the death of her daughter. All but forgotten in this frenzy is Eddie Fisher, the ...

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Video / DVD

Jack and Don in the Studio

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 29, 2016

I know little about Newvelle Records, other than they seem to spend big producing vinyl jazz packages for well-off listeners with high-end stereo systems who appreciate superb recordings of great artists. You'll find more on Newvelle and its offerings here. Reader David Langner brought the label to my attention primarily for two videos the label taped of well-known artists recording in its studios. I thought I'd share them with you. The first is an interview with Jack DeJohnette on his ...

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Video / DVD

7 Nancy Wilson Videos Clips

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 27, 2016

I'm convinced that one of these years, singer Nancy Wilson will become a Kennedy Center Honoree. Her artful ability to pull jazz into the pop realm and the peerless way in which she proved that pop was open to African-American interpretation without losing an ounce of pop's appeal was remarkable. Here are seven video clips to remind us why Nancy is special... Here's Nancy on TV's Jazz Scene USA in 1962, hosted by Oscar Brown Jr.... Here's Nancy on TV's ...

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Video / DVD

More Bands on WGN-TV in '65

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 26, 2016

A few weeks ago, I posted on an appearance by Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Harry James' appearance on WGN-TV in 1964 and '65. Back then, WGN aired a series of shows that featured Swing-era big bands. Most of these bands were at the tail-end of their commercial careers, since their core market was in their 40s or beyond and younger audiences had completely abandoned this form of music. The following WGN video clips give us a glimpse into what ...

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