Film Review
Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.
Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho
Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho A film by Liam Barker Liam Barker Film Production2015/2019 Acoustic guitar music wouldn't be the same without the pioneering effort of John Fahey, but If Fahey became the face of what he dubbed American Primitive music, a genre of advanced acoustic guitar music influenced by country-blues, Robbie Basho was just as important in opening the vista of guitar playing. Whereas Fahey's hero was country-blues guitarist, Charlie ...
read moreMiles Davis: Birth of the Cool - A Film By Stanley Nelson (2 DVD)
Miles Davis Birth of the Cool: A Film by Stanley Nelson Eagle Entertainment 2020 The two-DVD package of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool -A Film by Stanley Nelson reminds potential viewers to interpret the title broadly rather than literally. To be sure, the award-winning filmmaker and historian delves deeply into the conception and execution of that landmark music in his near two-hour piece of cinema. But his scholarly investigation is ultimately ...
read moreThe Doors: Break On Thru - A Celebration of Ray Manzarek
The Doors The Doors: Break On Thru -A Celebration Of Ray Manzarek Trafalgar Releasing Palace 9 Cinemas, South Burlington, VT February 12, 2020 The Doors: Break On Thru -A Celebration Of Ray Manzarek, lives up to the spirit of its subtitle. In the course of the film's roughly ninety minutes, director Justin Kreutzmann efficiently interweaves the main concert footage with interviews of the various participants plus vintage archival video in such a way ...
read moreTrying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon
This article was originally published at All About Jazz on June 5, 2008. Finding Validation Trying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon is a film that tells the story of trumpeter-vocalist-actor-comedian Jack Sheldon's remarkable life and career. Beginning with his impoverished childhood in segregated Florida and proceeding to his formative Hollywood teenage years with the legendary Chet Baker, the film follows Sheldon's career as he swings through the Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman bands, creating ...
read moreClarence Clemons: Who Do I Think I Am?
Clarence Clemons Who Do I Think I Am? MVD/Virgil Films 2019 Everyone probably has their favourite Clarence Clemons saxophone solo. Take that fiery blast at the close of Bruce Springsteen's “Thunder Road," for example, where Clemons blows a divine howl like some avenging angel. Clemons's life is documented in this film by director Nick Mead, who neatly uses black and white footage to highlight the musician's striking demeanour. Despite various hip and knee replacements ...
read moreBlue Note Records Beyond The Notes
Blue Note Records Beyond The Notes Director: Sophie Huber Run Time: 111 minutes Eagle Rock Entertainment 2019 Blue Note fans will love this film. It is an unblemished, 360-degree, feel-good feast for the eyes and the ears. Intended by director Sophie Huber to make sense to newcomers to jazz, Blue Note Records Beyond The Notes does not offer any arcane new perspectives on the label. It is instead a ...
read moreRolling Stones: Bridges To Buenos Aires
Rolling Stones Bridges To Buenos Aires Eagle Rock Entertainment 2019 Bridges to Buenos Aires is the second Rolling Stones concert release this year from the iconic band's world tour in support of Bridges to Babylon (Virgin America, 1997). And, while the decision may be questionable from a marketing point of view , the fact is this second title has every bit the production and perhaps even more passion and precision in the playing so evident ...
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