I saw this DVD box booklet about everybody from Duke Ellington & Stachemo to Billie Holiday and John Coltrane. The shit costs a grib too ya'll!

I'm already of fimiliar Ken Burns documentary movie "The Civil War" and I heard that his "Jazz" documentary movies series "Jazz" are cool to watch.

Is that box set worth me saving the money? What you guys think of it overall?

Harlepolis said:

i saw it when it was on PBS, it was Brilliant...that and the blues one is also fantastic, i say yes...get it

Harlepolis said:

The most comprehensive overview done on the subject that i've seen so far.
Certain segments of Jazz history could have been treated to a documentary of their own. But for what it is, it was very well done.
I taped it when it was first aired because I figured the commercial release would be expensive.

You could probably check it out from the Public Library before you decided to drop the ducats.

Tribal Disorder

I thought it was very well done, definitely worth seeing...it IS an expensive set to buy, though...It's been on PBS a few times, you might catch it on TV again for free, although, I'm sure it'll be during one of their Pledge Drives...

A DVD set that is worth its weight in gold. You get a documentary that covers jazz history, American history, and the history of race relations, all at the same time.

Check out Amazon or eBay for cheaper copies.

I was going to buy it a while ago and some people here said it was missing a ton of stuff. Then they also said it was Wynton Marsalis's idea of what jazz history was and that was why certain artists were skipped.

Now that I think about it, I'm going to get it. Maybe a Christmas present because I love leanring about jazz even if it costs $180

Slave2daGroove said:

1. I didn't notice it missing anything, tho I could be wrong.

2. Wynton is on there quite a bit and the doc does seem to have an agenda at times, that's true. Little time is devoted to jazz's modern era(s). But Burns seems to be fair. In fact, one of the most animated discussions in the doc was on the "free jazz" movement spearheaded by Ornette Coleman et al.

3. I bought it at Best Buy a few years ago for 110.00. Shop around, you'll find a good price!

Harlepolis said:

I guess it's good for a casual fan. For hardcore jazzheads it left something to be desired, and also gave short shrift to Miles' Fusion years, and Fusion in general. Burns portrayed Miles in the '70s as a sellout, pandering to the Woodstock generation's Rock and Funk fans. And that to me is unfortunate. Because Miles' Fusion period was just as important as his bebop/cool jazz/modal years.

Here's the thing: Burns wanted Wynton Marsalis to contribute his vision to the making of the documentary too. And anybody who knows Wynton's stance knows that he's a staunch purist. He's always disregarded the second half of Miles' career because of that - although he credits Miles as his biggest influence. I can't remember every detail right now, but I do remember that there were some Jazz musicians who are considered important artists who were either barely spoken about, or not spoken about at all. But I'm not telling you not to buy it.

Somebody refresh my memory: was Billie Holiday's career the only female artist that was covered?

Loved the fuck out of it. Was riveted to the screen. You hear Bird play, and think chix like Candy Dulfer should hang their heads and quit.

I blame Wynton for the death of jazz in America. He can't write an original melody to save his ass.

Supernova said:

Thanx again for pointing this out.I enjoyed the series and learned alot (Im a Jazz novice ), BUT , it did seem to leave out quite a bit .Herbie Hancock is one of my faves,and barely got a mention.With a 40 year career behind him,controversial or not, he deserved better.

The point is, from what I can tell, Jazz is all about expirimentation.Its unfair ( and foolish)
to ignore a whole movement within the genre, such as fusion, just because Wynton doesnt get it.

Yeah, Herbie was one of the artists they didn't do justice to!

I loved it!! Ken Burns is best for attention to detail

Cost-co had the box set for cheaper like a year or two back (I heard it, it's wicked!)
But I haven't seen the documentary.

I assume this is the same thing that was shown in the UK on the BBC a couple of years ago? If so, i thought it was excellent, really well done. Some of the CDs that accompany it are a bit hit and miss and include / exclude tracks in a surprising way, but it was a damn good watch.

Ella's career got covered from reading the reviews!

I read the reviews in Amazon and boy they were hard as hell(then again Jazzicts are snops by nature) and from their complaining I noticed that Ken made this documentary seem that Jazz DIED in the 60's(which proves Nova's points that many he is a purist) and also the fact that he focused on the theme "Jazz=black" which of course got them pissed and called him a "racist".

I REALLY need that damn package!!!
[This message was edited Thu Apr 15 9:00:28 2004 by Harlepolis]

Supernova said:[quote]

Harlepolis said:

Ella and Sarah were covered as well, but not as extensively as Billie Holliday. Some of the early female performers in Duke's outfit were briefly profiled.

2freaky4church1 said:

Great Article, thanks for posting it.

Mr. Marsalis should stop being a side-man and understand what it means for music to evolve.

No Herbie Hancock?!? WTF? He is the essential jazz artist that has grew and changed with the times while still being the best jazz cat I've ever heard. "Selling out" as a jazz musician might mean something if he let his music be used for a Target commercial but growing as a musician and attracting both a black and white audience is not selling out, IMO.

The comments (in this article) on Miles Davis really made me love him even more.

Slave2daGroove said:

Im not particularly fond of some of his 80s pop/r&b expiriments,but I dont begrudge the guy for trying.He has nothing to prove.In fact ,Hancock rather than Marsalis should have been involved as a commentator.Id imagine He knows more about the evolution of Jazz throughout it's long history than Marsalis.He's definitely more open minded.
[This message was edited Thu Apr 15 15:01:53 2004 by MrTation]

FUCK KEN BURNS !
til' he can tell it right.

FalseSetto said:

WHOA

At least, explain why do you resent the cat?