Milt Hinton Movies

This jazz compilation consists of various instrumental performances by Kenny Davern, Bob Wilbur and various ensembles, mounted and filmed at the "March of Jazz" events from 1994-96. Selections include "Beale Street Blues," "Rosetta," "Dog Blues," "Hindustan," "Comes Love," and much more. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

This isn't a film about a singer from the Lone Star state. "Texas Tenor" is a style of playing the saxophone which brings out its big sound and biggest volume. This documentary does a creditable job of exploring the life and times of the popularly unknown jazz and R&B saxophone legend Illinois Jacquet. He has played with most of the greats and almost single-handedly developed a rompin'-stompin' saxophone sound which has been a feature of great R&B ever since. A virtuoso performer with masterful phrasing, he became a star in the 1940s under the tutelage of Lionel Hampton, who had him change from alto to tenor sax and then gave him the opportunity to record an epochal solo in Flying Home. In addition to past and current performance and backstage footage, many jazz and rhythm and blues greats comment on Jacquet's playing and his place in music history. Some jazz-knowledgeable reviewers, evidently hoping for an entirely different and more erudite treatment, expressed disappointment in this documentary, others lauded it as one of the best ever made. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

A Musical-Educational-Informative video all in one! Cab Calloway is featured with his band in this compilation of vintage films. Beginning in 1935 with "Jitterbug Party" to a 1937 feature film, "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round, and a tune called "Mama I Wanna Make Rhythm." Skip to 1942 for four "soundies," "Blues in the Night," "Minnie the Moocher," "Virginia, Georgia and Caroline" and "The Skunk Song." This musical ride comes to the end of the line with several 1950 tunes, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Minnie the Moocher" and "St. James Infirmary." ~ All Movie Guide

One of America's great songwriters, Johnny Mercer, plays host for this special television concert which features vibraphone virtuoso Lionel Hampton leading an all-star jazz ensemble, including Gene Krupa on drums, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Milt Hinton on bass, Zoot Sims on sax, Tyree Glenn on trombone, and Joe Bushkin on piano. Selections include "The Man I Love", "She's Funny That Way", and "Jazz Band Ball". ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide