Deserves a 10
Ronald K. Goodenow | Northboro, MA USA | 04/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This 1996 Carnegie Hall concert rates right up there with the best -- Billie Holliday, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis..... For me, watching James Carter and Joshua Redman together riff with the Carnegie Center Jazz Orch is worth the price of admission, but there is much, much more and a collection of great vocalists and instrumentalists having a good time and letting it all loose. If you haven't heard Kevin Mahogany or caught Jay McShann (in whose band Charlie Parker cut his teeth) here's your chance. And, if Lester Leaps In, with Redman, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, Charles McPherson, Flip Phillips, Carter and company doesn't leave you wanting to dance in the gilded aisles nothing ever will. Though some purists might object to the occasional cuts (rather brief and often witty) from Eastwood movies and the laid back comments of patron Clint himself (and his less laid back piano playing), I found it all rather well done and thoroughly enjoyable. The guy's paid his dues to this art form and he gets his just deserts here. Above all, fine sound, excellent photography and almost two hours of the best jazz you will find on film. A great intro to jazz across generations and its contemporary energy. Full stop."
GOOD DVD
backspinman | Hopewell, VA United States | 05/11/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"THESE ARE WONDERFUL JAZZ MUSICIANS. THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME FROM RATING THIS 5 STARS IS THE CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS OF FILM CLIPS FROM CLINT'S OLD MOVIES. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE THIS STUFF BUT WHEN I WATCH MUSIC I LIKE TO GET INTO IT AND I DON'T LIKE COMMENTARY AND FILM CLIPS. EVEN WITH THAT, IT'S STILL GREAT MUSIC. WITH ALL THE RAP MUSIC? NOWADAYS IT'S A JOY TO SEE SOMEONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS. I HOPE THAT THIS ISN'T A LOST ART. THESE GUY'S PLAY AS WELL AT THE OLD JAZZ GREATS. THE SOUND IS REAL GOOD TOO."
If you love pure Jazz, this is a joy!!!
fredricks25 | S. Cal | 09/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who loves pure jazz (from some amazing musicians) will love this concert. I was very impressed with the video and audio quality. Some of my favorites(they're all great) are "Cherokee" (Charles Mcpherson) who has the sweetest alto sax sound I've ever heard along with "Straight No Chaser"(James Carter & Joshua Redman)where you have to hear their solos as they will blow you away! Seeing Barry Harris on piano is an added bonus for jazz piano fans. I could go on and on about the 106 minutes of amazing jazz that is packed into this DVD.
If you are Jazz obsessed (I am) you just have to have this. All in all, this DVD is just "straight ahead" fun.
Thanks goes to Clint Eastwood for keeping JAZZ alive!!"