Music & Performance Movies

This installment of the Encore Series from St. Clair Vision features a seven-song set by the one-and-only Duke Ellington that was originally recorded in 1961. "Take the 'A' Train," "Stormy Weather," and "Bugle Call Rag," are just a few of the numbers performed by Ellington and his band in Encore Series: Duke Ellington. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

One of the biggest artists in hip-hop, rapper Jay-Z surprised fans in 2003 when he announced he would retire following the release of his hotly anticipated collection The Black Album. In November of 2003, not long after the album hit stores, Jay-Z staged a special show at New York City's Madison Square Garden, in which he performed alongside some of the most popular and influential acts in hip-hop and R&B, including R. Kelly, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, ?uestlove, Pharrell Williams, P. Diddy, and more. Billed as Jay-Z's final solo performance (though he would stage a collaborative tour with R. Kelly in the fall of 2004), Fade to Black is a concert documentary that captures both the action on-stage and the celebration behind the scenes; the film also features an inside look at the making of The Black Album. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Originally aired as an NBC special, Faith Hill: When the Lights Go Down is comprised of a dozen live performances from Hill, plus bonus footage of performances that were not aired on the TV special. Hill performs songs from her most recent album, Cry, as well as some of the tried and true hits that helped her become one of the most popular female singers in the country genre. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

This film collects ten performances from a variety of gospel music artists. Such figures as Donnie McClurkin, Vanessa Bell Arstrong, and Helen Baylor perform a selection of songs that include "Who Would've Thought," "We Sing Glory," and "Awesome God." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Jimi Hendrix was perhaps the single most groundbreaking guitarist in the history of rock & roll; utilizing feedback, distortion, and effects pedals as integral parts of his sound and not simply as punctuation, Hendrix created a radically new aesthetic for the electric guitar, which combined with his superlative songwriting abilities and remarkable gift to bring out the most in other musicians helped to make him one of the most important figures in '60s rock, until his death in the fall of 1970s as a result of a drug overdose. This made-for-TV biography (originally shown on the Showtime premium cable network) stars Wood Harris as the legendary guitarist, and examines his life and career, both on and off the stage. Hendrix also stars Vivica A. Fox and Dorian Harewood; the filmmakers were unfortunately unable to obtain permission to use Hendrix's own songs in the film, so his onscreen performances are of covers Jimi recorded during his career. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Many gospel music artists exist in an double bind -- like nearly all musicians, gospel performers are influenced by the sounds around them, and many of the most creative artists are interested in taking their work in new and challenging directions. However, gospel is also music that serves to honor the Lord, and many strict Evangelical Christians are deeply wary of the influence of secular music in the gospel community, to the extent than a few notable sacred artists who have incorporated rock, soul, and rap accents have found themselves accused of heresy and worse. Higher Ground: Voices of Contemporary Gospel Music is a documentary that focuses on cutting-edge gospel artists, both past and present, as they explore both their faith and new horizons in faith through their artistry and deal with reactions both positive and negative. Artists profiled include Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Edwin Hawkins, Gospel Gangstaz, Jah Word, Dr. Bobby Jones, Fred Hammond, T-Bone, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A former member of the group Shalamar, Howard Hewett has long been a favorite of classic R&B enthusiasts, and this home-video release features Hewett applying his rich, passionate vocal style to a set of his best-known songs. Howard Hewett: Intimate -- Greatest Hits Live was recorded during a fall 2004 performance in Los Angeles, and includes songs from his solo career as well as his years with Shalamar. Selections include "I'm For Real," "This Love Is Forever," "Stay," "Heaven Sent You," "For the Lover in You," and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Ice Cube: The Making of a Don -- Unauthorized is an unauthorized biography about the life of rap-star/movie mogul Ice Cube. The film charts his idiosyncratic career trajectory from rapper in N.W.A to a successful actor and then director and writer. As this documentary is unauthorized no original music by the artist appears during the course of the film. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

This program presents a live performance of one of modern music's living legends, James Brown. The singer from Augusta, GA, has been thrilling audiences for five decades with his electrifying performances. Backed up by his famous revue, James Brown entertains the audience at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. The "Godfather of Soul" performs many of his greatest hits, including "Try Me," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Feel Good," "Soul Man," and "It's a Man's World." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi

Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1996 with the release of his debut LP, Reasonable Doubt. Seven years later, when he began his self-imposed retirement from performing, Jay-Z had grown to be one of the most powerful forces in all of popular music, both as an award-winning and chart-topping emcee and as a wildly successful producer and businessman. This unauthorized biographical documentary from Music Video Distributors provides an intimate retrospective look at the life and career of the music icon. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi