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Legends of Jazz: Showcase [Blu-ray]x$13.60
  (21 reviews)
Best Price: $19.98 $13.60
The critically-acclaimed Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis - the first weekly television series devoted to jazz in more than 40 years - debuted nationally on PBS stations in April 2006. Now presented on the superior new Blu-ray Disc format Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis "Showcase" is an all-star collection of 13 riveting live performances from the series by some of the biggest stars in jazz.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 878509000520 Manufacturer No: 090005
MPN: 090005 - UPC: 878509000520
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Customer Reviews
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Get this if you missed the PBS series
By ATGU03WOQO1XL on 2006-04-27
I found out about this 2-disk set while watching the "Male Vocalists" episode of the new PBS television series "Legends of Jazz," and after buying it, I find I am really looking forward to seeing all the rest of the actual half-hour TV shows from which these 13 tracks and clips are taken. As for this set, let me say first that the audio and video quality are simply outstanding, among the best I have ever heard, in fact, (which is not surprising considering that the TV series is shot in HDTV and features really outstanding Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound.) Next, as for the performances themselves, they really shine and there is something here for everyone - the set covers everything from latin jazz to be-bop, Brazilian jazz, fusion-type jazz, vocal jazz, and even throws in a bit of the blues, with a great duet by Robert Cray and Keb' Mo'. A really nice mix of artists, older and younger, and a pretty good value for money, considering that you get both a CD and a DVD packaged together in the box. I highly recommend this!
Legends of Jazz - Excellent/A Classic/A Must Have
By A1RQXACWSCT0LB on 2006-04-26
This is a fantastic collection of live performances on both DC and DVD! From the Al Jarreau/Kurt Elling vocal duet version of Brubeck's "Take Five" to David Sanborn and Phil Woods blowing down the house on the classic "Senor Blues", there is not a single bad track in this package. I also loved the solo performances - Chick Corea's mind-blowing display of technique on "Armando's Rhumba" is a particular standout, as is Benny Golson's "Killer Joe" (the track Spielberg used in the Tom Hanks film, "The Terminal".) This would be a good deal just for the audio CD, but the included video versions of the performances on the accompanying DVD are a welcome extra - they're shot beautifully and the Dolby 5.1 Surround really makes you feel as if you are there at the TV taping... For me, though, the best part is that the artist combinations are really well thought-out, and give you the chance to hear some incredible jazz musicians performing together whom you would ordinarily never see on the same stage.
Excellent Series!
By A1NGXUH00LRZ40 on 2006-08-28
Thank you Ramsey Lewis (and Larry Rosen) for bringing your radio show to the television. More people need to hear what jazz has to offer these days, and this TV show is perfect for people who don't really know what jazz sounds like. It's funny when you ask a person that doesn't listen to jazz at all, to describe what jazz sounds like to them, they will think that every song sounds like big band music, another person thinks that all songs sound like stripper music, or another person thinks that every song has a horn player playing screeching high notes that sounds like gibberish. Well there isn't one definition to qualify jazz music. Jazz music has a huge variety of forms, and the one thing that ties all of the styles together is the art of improvisation.
The DVD - Contains the episodes:
The Golden Horns - Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti
The Jazz Singers - Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling
Contemporary Jazz - George Duke, Lee Ritenour, Marcus Miller
The Altos - Phil Woods, David Sanborn
My personal favorite performances are:
Roy Hargrove - Invitation
Al Jarreau & Kurt Elling - Take Five
Phil Woods - Star Eyes
Ramsey Lewis - Theme Song
The video transfer is amazing and in High Definition. The audio sounds excellent and is in 5.1 Dolby Digital.
This is a great series, please do not listen to the other review, just because he had a defective copy, he doesn't have to bring the whole score down with a two-star review......I do own the other Legends of Jazz: Showcase DVD - which is not the complete episodes.
I'd rather have the full episodes, thanks to LRS Media for releasing the whole entire series (even if it is 4 episodes at a time.)
Excellent
By A13XI84R1M26F7 on 2006-05-05
I caught a few episodes of "Legends of Jazz" before buying this, so I knew I would like it. Some of this has not been shown yet by PBS in my area, so I didn't know if the ones I hadn't caught yet were going to be as good as the earlier ones. Well, it turns out that the remainder of them lived up to my expectations. I really like the Kurt Elling and Al Jarreau version of the classic "Take Five" and the Robert Cray and Keb Mo collaboration on "The 12 Year Old Boy". The only thing I'm disappointed about is that there is no Roy Hargrove on here. Hargrove is my favorite living trumpet player and I really enjoyed his playing on the first episode. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
Repetitive and defective!
By AF36EAU4A3V8Q on 2006-08-18
The video and audio quality are outstanding. The interviews a little kitschy. The problems are that if you bought the first series DVD, which was an overview of the whole series, you already have half of the tracks here. Also, might just be my copy but the video/audio don't sync for the Woods/Sanborn tracks.
- Excellent !
By A2477BSPCVKS58 on 2007-05-08
If you want to know the great high definition, buy it !
The performers are first class. Audio = *****.
- All Music-TV Should Sound -- and Look -- This Good
By A314OG5YPBU4UV on 2006-08-31
Jazz-piano master Ramsey Lewis, the perfect host for this new weekly show, has come up, appropriately, with the perfect format. At half an hour, the program never overstays its welcome and invariably leaves the viewer/listener wanting more. The opening historical footage sets the stage nicely for Lewis' warm and illuminating conversations with jazz's living legends (plus a few young turks)...but the high point is, of course, the performances.
To begin with, the performances look and sound amazing. The picture and audio are pristine, vivid, and crystal-clear. I'm not very tech-savvy, so don't ask me how they do it, but whatever systems and equipment these folks are using, the end result is the closest you'll come to being stageside.
None of which would matter, of course, were the performances themselves subpar. Not to worry: Volume I includes several of the most exciting documentations of jazz musicianship I've had the privilege of witnessing, live or otherwise. High points include horn player Roy Hargrove's virtuosic "Invitation," his peer Chris Botti's lovely reading of "My Funny Valentine," Al Jarreau's gleeful "Cold Duck Time" (sung, as is Jarreau's habit, not just with his mouth and vocal chords but with his whole enthused body), the surprisingly funky contemporary-jazz collab "The Panther," and David Sanborn's & Phil Woods' delicious double-sax rendition of "Senor Blues."
The high point for me, though, is Jarreau's vocal duet with Kurt Elling on Dave Brubeck's classic "Take Five." This is, quite simply, a tour de force, from its a capella opening through its gorgeous harmonies, cool key changes, and exultant choruses -- all the way to its slyly understated ending.
During the interviews, Miles Davis is cited repeatedly as a major influence more often than anyone; many of the younger players also point to the elder statesmen seated right beside them as role models. (Says Sanborn of a visibly delighted Woods: "I was just trying to sound like HIM!") Lewis, an accomplished musician himself, interviews his colleagues as an "insider," which makes for rich conversations that really count. Moreover, the enthusiasm, positivity, and joy that pervade the entire enterprise are contagious: Volume I leaves you not only thoroughly entertained (and a bit educated) but also bouncing on your heels and smiling for hours to come.
So, when do we get Volume II?
- Amazing!
By ALH51SC8IMKZK on 2007-01-28
These are great---super quality on the DVD and the CD. This is an amazing series and the DVD/CD sets are awesome. I teach Jazz History and Jazz Band and this is the greatest thing I have ever had to show my students in class.
- Good Feelings!
By A2NO6C34NCSAI9 on 2006-08-24
It was lovely to finally have a music DVD that presented great performances, the smooth transition from one great sound to the next sound was seamless. This was one of the best DVD that I have purchased in a long time. This was so good that it was a shame that it is only 55 minutes in length, I would have gladly spent hours with this release. More music DVDs need to be made like this and in so doing it would stop that disappointed feeling that far to many music DVDs leave you with. It is like some meals the presentation is great but after the meal you still have an appetite for more and this DVD did that for me it left me wanting more!
Very Pleased!
- jhl
By A27J8UUPBTPK0H on 2007-04-18
I have thoroughly enjoyed this disc since purchasing it a couple of weeks ago. The picture quality is really nice but 1080p is not available. Also, there is no PCM 5.1 either. This is the only reason that I gave it four instead of five stars.
Beyond that, this really is a neat collection of artists/music. I usually pop this thing in every night for a couple of minutes or end up listening to the entire list. If you have an interest in learning more about jazz and its different genres then give this disc a listen. I am actively pursuing more jazz since purchasing this disc.
- Absolutely spectacular
By A35451LISW1FNN on 2007-04-30
This disc is a must-own if you like Jazz and have a Blu-ray player. The video is outstanding, but the audio will blow you away.
The entire disc is in Dolby TrueHD, so you get 100% lossless audio. It is pristine.
- Great sound check
By A3IYUBCKP5GXNO on 2007-05-12
This Blu-ray DVD is a great test for your home theater system. It produces a copious amount of sounds to reveal your receiver and speaker system's dynamic range. The video quality is 1080i, but it is clear none the less.
- Not a demo material
By ABM71MMZAD3DP on 2007-07-24
Having read a review at Hi Def Digest saying that this looks better than any material shot on film ever will, I ran to buy this disc (along with Chris Botti's favorably reviewed BD). I do not know what these people were thinking? Music, performances and sound are great, but this looks awfull and not wothy of a Hi Def disc. Really, some upscaled DVD's are looking much better. Very disappointing...
- Jazz showcase
By A8C9LPHG3N1M0 on 2007-05-21
The picture quality on this Blueray disc is oustanding. The soundtrack is encoded as DTS HD master audio. It still sounds very good even if my equipment can only extract the DTS 1.5 mps core. My Sony BPS1 does not have the capability to decode DTS HD master Audio. All blue ray concerts should have uncompressed PCM. Uncompressed PCM never needs decoding and is compatible with most receiver's.
- Absolutely Amazing!!!
By AW0UQ7PJCXIVX on 2007-06-06
This is probably my favorite BR title to date. Although the video is 'only' 1080i, the PQ is excellent... Don't let the spec fool you because it's not 1080p. The audio is as good as it gets. It's very clear they went to extremes to make sure the audio was top shelf.
If you like Jazz, or even if you just want great demo material, this disc is a must own!!!
- Perfect test disc
By A1NUK8NYUSD4ZD on 2007-12-13
Perfect disc for Demo , one of my favorite blueray beside Pat matheny the way up disc
- Nice Collection
By ABFJXSRAZ3FEK on 2007-12-12
This is a nice set for Jazz Buffs; the DVD isn't as important but adds a nice touch if giving as a gift.
- The best image I've seen on BD
By A3D4HUBO4T9UXJ on 2008-05-04
If you want to impress your friends with the best possible quality image, just show them this BD. And it's only 1080i!!!. You can see the minor details of the hair, faces, instruments of the artists, the texture of the clothes, all.
But the image is so amazing that you can forget that the musical pieces in this blu ray are also fantastic.
The only pity is why they don't commercialize all the complete shows one by one in high definition. I'd buy all of them.
- Extra-ordinary Performances
By A3C88KLMC0EEIQ on 2008-05-20
From the opening duet with Al Jarreau & Kurt Elling doing a scat rendition of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five", to Ramsey Lewis' tranquil piano on "dear Lord", this disc had me hooked. There is some amazing performances on here, but I was especially partial to Clark Terry's "Mumbles". The man had me mesmerized, smiling and laughing...not something you find yourself doing on a disc such as this.
The only reason I didn't give it 5-Star rating is due to it's length! I longed for more and I was disappointed when it was over. I sure do hope that they release another Legends of Jazz Blu-ray...I certainly will be one of the first to pick it up.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...even if you're only a marginal jazz fan (like me I suppose).
- The closest experience to being there live
By A10AJVRI6YOSY4 on 2008-06-12
This is a masterfully produced disc. When you put this in your player and the theme music starts, you know you are in for a great night of jazz.
What truly makes this collection compelling is the well-balanced list of performances. There are artists new and old, well-known and not so well-known, from a surprisingly varied pool of jazz sub-genres: fusion, bebop, swing, latin, and bossa. There is even a blues performance thrown in. The performances themselves are mostly very good, with the occasional eye-opening one mixed in such as Marcus Miller's Panther.
The production value of the disc is fantastic too. I would've loved this even on VHS because it is ultimately about the music; but there is something to be said about the excellent high definition video and sound. This is truly as close as one can get to being there live. The disc is also very well organized. It is easy to switch between sound formats and you can access the performances individually from the main menu too. Even the artist bios are well done. In fact, I found this Blu-ray disc so great that I'm now torn between buying the Legends of Jazz DVD collection or waiting for a Blu-ray release. I will probably buy the DVD set now since the music and the performances are what's important I think.
As far as shortcomings, the only one I found is that the length is on the short side at 55 minutes. Everything else was perfect. If you like jazz, you'll love this disc.
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