Jazz : A Film By Ken Burns
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Movie Reviews of Jazz : A Film By Ken Burns
Movie Review: Great Study on Black History
Summary: 4 Stars
The best thing I like about this documentary is that it is a great study on black History. But it needed to deliver more on what it was supposed to be Jazz Music. I can't believe he left out the great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Left out Roland Kirk and Keith Jarrett. very little on dave Brubeck. Should have talked about classic Jazz Albums like Kind of blue, Time out (with the song Take Five) A Love Supreme, My favourite things, bitches Brew etc. Also nothing on Milt Jackson and the great Modern Jazz Quartet. Ken burns must realize there's is more to jazz than just the big band swing era. But still a great study on black history which makes it worthwhile just for that alone. and nothing on jazz hip hop. songs like doo bop song(miles Davis) and Jazz thing (gang Starr)Movie Review: One of a kind
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a lengthy and definitive history of jazz, with extensive research and pictorial material. My one complaint is that there are virtually no opportunities to listen to the music without voice over. For the music itself, you need audio recordings as a supplement.
Some viewers may prefer an earlier and shorter documentary, "The Story of Jazz" (BMG 1991), which is just 1- 1/2 hours long, nicely done, and--because it was made several years earlier--has footage with some jazzmen who had passed on by the time Burns's documentary was made.
Interested listeners should also check out the "Jazz Icons" series of DVDs (TDK), which offer rare AV footage of live performances by American jazz greats in Europe during the '50s-'70s.
Movie Review: Makes a complex music (and it's origins) understandable to the interested lay person
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm not a jazz historian . I'm not a jazz musician . I'm not even a musician . I'm revisiting this huge documentary for the second time . As with when it was first broadcast , my only real frustration is with where the film stops . If Ken and/or some other folks would pick up where this film leaves off , i'll award it a fifth star . I first fell , headlong , fully and forever , into jazz music at age 19 in 1982 . I never looked back . Jazz music is the soundtrack to my life . I'll never stop learning about it . This is a great and magnificent 19 hour film . It still needs an additional six to eight hours (at least) in my opinion though . Start here anyway , if you are interested in the music . It's a remarkable story .Movie Review: Partial History of Jazz
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great series but it is not a true history of jazz. It omits the crucial fact that jazz was driven by songs and vocalists and not by instrumentalists. An example would be the 'canaries' who were the singers who got big bands their audiences in the swing era. Jazz songwriting comes mostly from Broadway musicals which is also an overlooked point. Still, it's got some great commentary on all the instrumental greats.
Uh, then it falls utterly flat in the last episode. Never mind.
Movie Review: Enjoyable and Educational
Summary: 4 Stars
I am happy I bought this for my husband. He is the Jazz buff in our home. We are watching this together and find it not only entertaining but also educational. My husband and I appreciate the episodic feature of this presentation so as not to be overwhelming nor time consuming.