Jazz Movies

Somewhere in the twilight hour that came between Elvis and The Beatles, the popularity of American folk music enjoyed a brief surge among the nation's youth. It was during this time that host Jack Linkletter hit the airwaves with Hootenanny - a popular musical variety program featuring the biggest names in folk, jazz, and gospel, with a few clever comedians thrown in for good measure. In this release, folk music fans can re-live eighty of the best moments in Hootenanny history as a diverse collection of artists including The Journeymen, Eddy Arnold, and Leon Bibb all take the stage to capitalize on the early-1960s folk music craze. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Designed for both the student and the spectator, this release from Warner Music includes instructional segments with jazz guitarist Joe Pass, as well as a live concert featuring Pass joined by Bob Magnusson on bass and Joe Porcaro on percussion. Among the songs on the set list are "All the Things You Are," "You Don't Know What Love Is," and "Satin Doll." ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

This concert film captures a remarkable collaboration between three of the acknowledged greats of jazz guitar. John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Paco De Lucia had each became masters in their own way when they joined forces in order to tour. This program is highly recommended to any jazz or guitar enthusiast. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett lends his subtle and distinctive performance style to a program of old standards in this concert video, recorded during a solo piano performance at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Keith Jarrett: Solo Tribute -- The 100th Performance in Japan captures Jarrett finding new nuances and meanings in 14 classic songs, including Summertime, The Night We Called It a Day, Sweet and Lovely, Then I'll Be Tired of You, and Things Ain't What They Used to Be. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

When it comes to jazz, there's no name as instantly recognizable as legendary trumpet man Miles Davis. Recorded in 1959 and newly re-mastered to take advantage of the high quality made possible by the DVD format, this performance captures the master of jazz in his prime -- bringing the performance into your home as never before thought possible. Songs include "So What," "The Duke," "Blues for Pablo," and "New Rhumba." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Three gifted jazz fusion artists -- guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke, and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty -- pool their talents for a special performance at one of the world's most celebrated music festivals. Al Di Meola/Stanley Clarke/Jean-Luc Ponty: Live at Montreux 1994 features the trio performing "Summer Country," "Memory Canyon," "Renaissance," "Indigo," "Cancion Sofia," and five others. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Grammy award-winning comtemporary jazz trio the Chick Corea Akoustic Band reunites for the first time in a decade to blow the lid off of New York City's famed Blue Note jazz club in an energetic performance that's sure to please. Join Corea and bandmates John Patitucci and Dave Weckl as they perform five unforgettable hits including John Coltraine's "Bessie's Blues", Frank E. Churchill and Larry Morey's "Some Day my Prince will Come", Robert Mellin and Guy B. Wood's "My One and Only Love", and the original Corea favorites "Spain" and "Humpty Dumpty". ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1965 was a two-part television special that captured the jazz legend performing many of the songs that made him one of the most revered American musicians of the 20th century. This video release contains both of those specials. The 20 song set list includes standards like "Sophisticated Lady," "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," and "Tootie for Cootie." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

One of the leading guitarists of the fusion jazz movement and a first-call session player, Lee Ritenour has earned a reputation as a musician's musician, and this special performance video finds him looking back at the broad range of his career. Lee Ritenour and Friends: Overtime features sets from four combos in four different styles -- acoustic jazz, Brazilian sounds, Ritenour's contemporary work from the '80s, and his classic fusion material. Ritenour's accompanists for these sessions include Dave Grusin, Ivan Lins, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts, Chris Botti, Steve Forman, Harvey Mason, Alex Acuña, Kenya Hathaway, and many more. Selections include "Blue in Green," "Captain Fingers," "Night Rhythms," "Harlequin," "Captain Caribe," and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Woody Herman and His Swinging Herd compiles television appearances by the jazz master and his acclaimed backing band. Well versed in a variety of jazz styles, Herman made these appearances in the early '60s. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

This performance by guitarists Badi Assad, John Abercrombie, and Larry Coryell perform 17 songs in this concert program, recorded in Paris in 2004. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Two old friends reunite for a performance that would set the Ottawa Jazz Festival ablaze in this concert that teams famed pianist Harry Connick, Jr. with celebrated saxophonist Branford Marsalis. On the heels of a successful recording session in March of 2005, Connick and Marsalis decided to bring their act to the Ottawa Jazz Festival for a special pair of performances. Now, for those who may have been unable to attend the festival in person, Marsalis and Conick, Jr.'s remarkable performance comes home in this film from director Pierre Lamoureux. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi