Somebody has reposted the classic Arena 'Cool Jazz' documentary.
Catch it while you can as it'll get pulled due to licence issues in a few days/weeks...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JUSsm4rCFk
Such a good doc..Graham Marsh is credited at the end I noticed.
The Oscar Peterson solo is out of this world.
Here's another BBC doc that might be of interest...
1959 The Year that Changed Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dou3aSZmEg0
Thanks for posting those, Acton - I'd never seen the Arena film before, really terrific stuff, a great example of how to "show don't tell"
^ a music documentary made by music fans, I wish there was more like it.
Does in an hour what the much lauded Ken Burns Jazz series failed to do in 3 hour long episodes,
I do love the Ken Burns films but the Arena doc is so succinct in addressing multiple threads with a single example, should be shown to media students in a 'Clockwork Orange' style ( eyes clamped open and played loud )
It really is a masterpiece. ..it just drifts about in front of you..the font they used has aged badly but everything else is perfect
Last edited by Bop (2016-03-22 11:52:29)
Are you trying to view it on your phone woof?
Try on a desktop... wouldnt let me on my phone (basically a tablet) but worked on the computer. There's an option on youtube where the uploader can restrict what devices the vid will play on
Last edited by Bop (2016-03-22 15:35:00)
Last edited by Acton_Baby (2016-03-23 03:27:52)
I agree that the Burns doc grows a bit tiresome on the Marsalis tip. Still a crucial viewing for any fan of the genre. Both of the aforementioned docs are far more enjoyable to watch. I especially like the 1959 doc because of all the great Brubeck stuff, especially the part where he and Morello recount Desmond's storm-off-the-stage fit of jealous rage.
I still think it's too narrow as an overview of the 'American Artform' and the last couple of episodes are really terrible.
The Arena docs do a much better job of creating an atmosphere and letting the musicians speak for themselves.
The Arena doc is a piece of art in itself.. I think it was deliberately done to feel like you were on smack
I think it is best to judge the Burns documentary by what it is, not what it isn't. The episodes on early jazz are excellent and yes, later you get the impression the focus is too narrow, subjective and running out of steam and budget. But what you get is the jazz world according to the Marsalis and Crouch school of thought. Take and leave what thou will from it.
Interestingly, this jazz world according to Marsalis has been discussed this very week on the controversial Steve Hoffman forum:
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/why-is-there-such-a-dislike-for-wynton-marsalis.513067/