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Home>Jazz on the Screen
CINEMA, TELEVISION and DVD Releases
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| Norman Granz jazz fan, impresario and producer was a non-musician who made an enormous contribution to jazz music, and one of the few to make a million out of jazz. And he did it honourably and without exploiting the artists.
In 1944 Granz staged the first ”Jazz at the Philharmonic” concert which was held at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium a venue which up to that time showcased classical music performances.
“Jazz at the Philharmonic” went on to become an international concert event.
Granz went on to manage some of the biggest names in jazz including Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald. He also established the record companies “Clef” (1946) “Norgran” (1953) “Verve” (1956) and “Pablo” (1973).
Available on DVD is a series of Norman Granz produced jazz concerts which capture the elite of jazz recorded in performance at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.
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| The series “Norman Granz Jazz in Montreux” ncludes the following:
“Ella and Basie (The Perfect Match) ‘78”
“Count Basie Jam ‘75”
“Ray Bryant ‘77”
“Benny Carter ‘77”
“Eddie Lockjaw Davis ‘77”
“Tommy Flanigan Trio ‘75”
“Dizzy Gillespie Sextet ‘77”
“Milt Jackson and Ray Brown ‘77”
“Oscar Peterson ‘75”
“Oscar Peterson Trio ‘75”
“Clark Terry Sextet ‘77”
“Mary Lou Williams ‘78”
“Jazz at the Philharmonic ‘75”
Pictured are two of the above DVDs. The production values are first class and feature the artists at the peak of their careers. The series is highly recommended by The Jazz Man
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|  ”The World According to John Coltrane”
This is a multi-faceted portrait of one of the most innovative and influential jazz saxophonists of the 1960s.
The DVD is the first film about Coltrane’s life which was made with the full co-operation of his widow Alice Coltrane.
The DVD includes extensive footage of John Coltrane, some never seen before, including a clip of Coltrane playing alto sax while in the U.S. Navy in 1946.
The DVD is distributed by The AV Channel Pty Ltd, - www.avchannel.com.au
The DVD number is DAVID0136
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|  ”Brubeck returns to Moscow”
The Dave Brubeck Quartet (Brubeck, piano; Bobby Militello, alto sax; Jack Six, bass; Randy Jones, drums) performs Dave’s greatest hits and his entire reverent, rhythmic mass, “To Hope! A Celebration” with the Russian National Orchestra at the world renowned Bolshoi Hall of the Moscow Conservatory of Music.
It was the first time that jazz was heard in Russia’s most prestigious classical music venue.
Cameras capture the fascinating, painstaking, tension filled rehearsals of the orchestra, chorus, soloists and quartet as they strive to achieve a common voice.
The video also includes Brubeck’s reflections on over fifty years as a jazz pianist, composer and unofficial ambassador of goodwill, along with jam sessions with Russian jazz “masters” at the elegant Spaso House, a seminar with Moscow Conservatory students and interviews with Russian musicians and the Quartet.
The DVD (pictured ) is released by Lance Entertainment, Inc. ISBN: 1-4172-3156-4
E-mail us with any jazz movies, DVDs or television programs that you have seen (or have) and we’ll add them to our "Jazz on the Screen” page.
If possible send us a photo along with details of the artists etc.
Over the years there have been scores (pardon the pun) of movies and television programs that are based on jazz subjects or have jazz soundtracks, let us know what they and we’ll compile a list for all to see.
Feel free to give a critique on any of the films/DVDs on this page.
Our E-mail address is bs@thejazzman.com.au
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|  "BIRD"
Director Clint Eastwood brings a lifelong love of jazz to, and won a Best Director Golden Globe Award for, this gripping story of pioneering jazzman Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Like a spellbinding jazz riff, past and future overlap as the movie explores Bird’s soaring skill and destructive excesses. In his Cannes Film Festival Best Actor performance, Forest Whitaker in the title role is a candle ablaze at both ends. Diane Venora shares that glorious light, the New York Film Critics Best Supporting Actress choice as steadfast wife Chan Parker. Skillfully blending Parker solo recordings with modern musicians, BIRD comes alive most mightily on its soundtrack, Honored with a Best Sound Academy Award.® In Eastwood’s hands, BIRD truly, stunningly lives.
“Extraordinary. The best American film ever made about jazz.”
Jack Kroll, “NEWSWEEK.”
“Exhilarating! Clint Eastwood’s consummating directing and flawless cast send BIRD soaring! Bird lives!”
Gene Shalit, “TODAY”/NBC-TV
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