Jazz Scene USA - Cannonball Adderley Sextet/Teddy Edwards Sextet

Rating:
Summary: Uncut performances by jazz greats. A must-have.
Review: As-is, this is the original 1962 TV show. This volume features two episodes- Cannonball Adderley's group and Teddy Edward's group. Great music and very creative camera work (which is a complement to the spontaneous music being performed) make this mostly-music DVD a breath of fresh air for those who want to see and hear uncut musical performances. The hipster-host of the show is quite amusing too. I am looking forward to adding future volumes of this series to my DVD collection.

Rating:
Summary: Golden Age of TV and Jazz
Review: From the first note, you know you're watching history in the making. Then, you realise that this is not a recorded theme song. It's actually the Cannonball Adderley Sextet playing behind the opening credits. Jazz Scene USA was a short-lived TV showcase of jazz. Filmed in black & white, the cameras work in sympathy with the players. Every nuance of the performance is captured down to the vibrations of the bass strings. Having been born in 1969 and having seen too much TV, it is my opinion that television's golden age has come and gone. For me the best shows (Twilight Zone, The Honeymooners, Star Trek, etc.) were made between 1952 and 1969. DVD is the perfect medium to revive these old shows. Now they need to reissue other, more recent music programs from TV like David Sandborn's "Night Music" (early 1990's) series and PBS' "Sessions On West 54th". But first, I need to get the rest of the titles in this series. [DW]

Rating:
Summary: Golden Age of TV and Jazz
Review: From the first note, you know you're watching history in the making. Then, you realize that this is not a recorded theme song. It's actually the Cannonball Adderley Sextet playing behind the opening credits. Jazz Scene USA was a short-lived TV showcase of jazz. Filmed in black & white, the cameras work in sympathy with the players. Every nuance of the performance is captured down to the vibrations of the bass strings. Having been born in 1969 and having seen too much TV, it is my opinion that television's golden age has come and gone. For me the best shows (Twilight Zone, The Honeymooners, Star Trek, etc.) were made between 1952 and 1969. DVD is the perfect medium to revive these old shows. Now they need to reissue other, more recent music programs from TV like David Sandborn's "Night Music" (early 1990's) series and PBS' "Sessions On West 54th". But first, I need to get the rest of the titles in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable look at some all-time Jazz greats
Review: I purchased this DVD for my 14yo budding jazz saxophonist son. He was previously attracted to Cannonball Adderly's sound, but had never seen footage of him playing. The complete focus on the musician's playing their music was refreshing. This is much different than today, where one song and follow-up interview is the TV norm. The quality and creativity of the camera work was stunning.
We've replayed the DVD several times. We certainly enjoyed the music; "Work Song" is one of my son's favorites. But, we also checked out the musicians (some great closeups of a young Joe Z and Yusaf Lateef, Cannonball's personality...). The instruments themselves are a focal point for my son with the closeups even showing the detailed art deco style engraving of Nat Adderly's Cornet. Finally, we were able to focus on musical technique where the closeups showed their embouchure, fingering, breathing, Yusaf Lateef on a homemade flute. My son was experimenting on his Tenor sax as soon as we finished.
In general, the DVD was entertaining and motivating for my son and thoroughly enjoyable for me. A great way to expose my son to the all-time jazz greats, this DVD was a surprisingly effective way of reinforcing my son's instructors efforts to establish correct technique. My expectations were exceeded.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable look at some all-time Jazz greats
Review: I purchased this DVD for my 14yo budding jazz saxophonist son. He was previously attracted to Cannonball Adderly's sound, but had never seen footage of him playing. The complete focus on the musician's playing their music was refreshing. This is much different than today, where one song and follow-up interview is the TV norm. The quality and creativity of the camera work was stunning.
We've replayed the DVD several times. We certainly enjoyed the music; "Work Song" is one of my son's favorites. But, we also checked out the musicians (some great closeups of a young Joe Z and Yusaf Lateef, Cannonball's personality...). The instruments themselves are a focal point for my son with the closeups even showing the detailed art deco style engraving of Nat Adderly's Cornet. Finally, we were able to focus on musical technique where the closeups showed their embouchure, fingering, breathing, Yusaf Lateef on a homemade flute. My son was experimenting on his Tenor sax as soon as we finished.
In general, the DVD was entertaining and motivating for my son and thoroughly enjoyable for me. A great way to expose my son to the all-time jazz greats, this DVD was a surprisingly effective way of reinforcing my son's instructors efforts to establish correct technique. My expectations were exceeded.

Rating:
Summary: Cannonball's Yusef Lateef band and Great Teddy Edwards
Review: This selection from the Jazz Scene USA series is probably the strongest for pure music. Cannonball has one of his best bands with the great Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute and Joe Zawinul playing at his best. Of more intrest for jazz fans is the Teddy Edwards band. With Freddie Hill, trumpet and Richard Boone, trombone, the band plays nice arrangements of several of Teddy's greatest tunes. It's a rare chance to see this artist at his prime. It relates somewhat to the "Avalon" CD Fantasy released a while ago that still may be obtainable.
The whole series is worth getting for the pure music played as it should be.