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From New York : the jazz life / produced by Ben Sidran ; a Myriad Media Productions, Inc. production. Live from New York : the jazz life / directed by Parker Y. Bird ; produced by Ben Sidran.
- Format:
- Video
- Series:
- Academic Video Online
- Language:
- No linguistic content
- Subjects (All):
- Jazz--1981-1990.
- Jazz.
- Genre:
- Jazz.
- Concert television programs.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (55 minutes)
- Other Title:
- Art Blakey and Jazz Messengers - Live at Seventh Avenue South
- Art Blakey and Jazz Messengers - Live at Village Vanguard
- Jazz life
- Live from New York : the jazz life
- Place of Publication:
- Paris, France : Qwest TV, 1982.
- Language Note:
- In English.
- System Details:
- video file
- Summary:
- Hands down, the premiere jazz club in the world rests at Seventh Avenue South in New York. Countless great shows have been played at the Village Vanguard over its long history. It opened as a comedy / variety / folk club in 1935 but in 1957 primarily changed its sole focus onto jazz. It welcomed in the greats ranging from Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk to Bill Evans and Carmen McRae. With its jazz-only programming, countless classic jazz albums have been recorded there -- even to this day. So, it made total sense to have the Vanguard be the setting for a series of live TV performances in the early '80s produced by keyboardist Ben Sidran. The Jazz Life opens with images of the city (including sadly the twin towers that were brought down by terrorists twenty years later) and includes the outside of the basement club. Featured in this 1982 video is the legendary hard-bebop drummer Art Blakey joyfully leading the latest iteration of his exalted band Jazz Messengers that he founded in 1955. What an impressive lineup of the emerging stars of the future: trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who served as Art's musical director), his brother Branford Marsalis on alto saxophone, tenor saxophonist Billy Pierce, pianist Donald Brown and bassist Charles Fambrough. Wynton was especially impressive as a lyrical ballad player as well as an improviser with surprising twists in his horn playing. At the end of the set, the smiling Blakey got in front of the stage, introduced the band and preached to the crowd to go out to buy a record once a week as "a good investment." Blakey's set lasted about a half hour and is followed by another half hour at the Vanguard starring monster tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin and his quartet. They open their 1981 show with the rambunctious tune "Blues for Gonzi" with Griffin leading the charge with an extended hard-blowing, shredding tenor solo that charged the Vanguard crowd to go crazy in applause. Griffith's bandmates--Ronnie Matthews on piano, Ray Drummond on bass and Kenny Washington on drums--take the song into overdrive. Just another day at the heralded Village Vanguard. Dan Ouellette.
- Participant:
- Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (Wynton Marsalis, trumpet ; Bradford Marsalis, alto sax ; Billy Pierce, tenor sax ; Donald Brown, piano ; Charles Fambrough, bass ; Art Blakey, drums) ; Johnny Griffin Quartet (Johnny Griffin, tenor saxopone ; Ronnie Matthews, piano ; Ray Drummond, bass ; Kenny Washington, drums).
- Notes:
- Title from title screen (viewed November 30, 2022).
- From New York Recorded live Seventh Avenue South 1982.
- Live from New York Recorded live Village Vanguard 1981.
- OCLC:
- 1358781137
- Publisher Number:
- ASP5363490/marc
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