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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Ken Burns' Jazz
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Message started by Matchstikman on 05/16/16 at 21:32:14

Title: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Matchstikman on 05/16/16 at 21:32:14

Anyone ever watch this? I've seen it several times. Every time an episode is on I can help but watch it. Jazz has such a rich history. Plus, every time I watch it I end up hooked on someone different. This last time I got hooked on Thelonious Monk.

If you haven't seen it, it is fascinating stuff.

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Lon on 05/16/16 at 21:39:47

I watched it religiously when it was first released on PBS and was fascinated to see all that I had studied unfold before my eyes. The jazz community pooh poohed it because they have issues with Wynton Marsalis and his stance that jazz pretty much died in the early sixties and how they focused on people like Duke and Louis and not some lesser knowns. . . . Well, it was short on anything beyond that but it was 19 hours of jazz! Some amazing photos and films and facts. I have the DVD box set and pull a volume out now and then. I understand the focus on Louis and Duke and I LOVE their work so it's always a joy. I wish they had paid a bit more attention to Eddie Condon and his "clan" of musicians but that's a moot point. Glad you are digging the episodes!

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by stone_of_tone on 05/17/16 at 01:51:22

Same here, I was revited to my TV for the PBS run years back. I enjoy pop contemporary Jazz. However, the reason I created a Room and went after equipment that can sound live like the real thing....is because of the Duke, Johnny Hodges, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderly, Ben Webster and of course the one and only Coleman Hawkins. Sax!

Right now though, I'm in the mood for Itzhak Perlman & The late great Oscar Peterson (Side by Side ~ TELARC).

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Matchstikman on 05/17/16 at 18:32:04

Lon, I sort of agree to some extent with Wynton Marsalis.

Have you guys seen Whiplash?

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Lon on 05/17/16 at 18:38:09

I pretty much agree with him as well. A lot of it is semantics. A lot of later music I can enjoy but don't consider it "jazz." There is a certain prestige to the term "jazz" I guess that people want to associate with, but it's not a lucrative genre in any way, hasn't been for some time. Only a few like Wynton (in his position with Lincoln Center) really do well.

I decided not to bother with watching Whiplash.

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Palomino on 05/17/16 at 19:46:27

I was watching Whiplash on an airplane and we landed before it ended!

Anyway, I did want to watch the rest of it. I thought it was a tense but emotionally gripping movie.

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Matchstikman on 05/17/16 at 20:22:23

Lon, the reason I mention Whiplash was not so much because it involved jazz but because the antagonist had a life's search of finding the next Charlie Parker. It is intense. J.K. Simmons earned that Oscar.

Title: Re: Ken Burns' Jazz
Post by Lon on 05/17/16 at 20:50:32

Cool. I'll consider it. I'm not much of a film watcher these days. . . and what I've heard of the "intensity" of the film I can do without.