Product Details

• Actors: Ann Baker, Art Blakey, Billy Eckstine, Lightnin' Hopkins, Leroy Maxey
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Storyville Films
• DVD Release Date: February 17, 2004
• Run Time: 61 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001AP06I
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,579 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A record of great black big band music from the late '40's, August 20, 2004

By 

J. E. Fox "jazz fan" (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Big Bands (DVD)

This DVD is a collection of music by several of the black big bands that were around in the late 1940's, when big bands were dying and existing bands were shifting over to rhythm and blues.
But first up is Cab Calloway from 1935, playing several swinging items with his classic original band derived from the St. Louis Missourians. The numbers are well arranged and are marvelous.
Next up is Lucky Millinder from 1948. The band is still swinginng, but includes several vocals including a ballad(!) by "Bull Moose" Jackson. There are good solos by an alto player (featured but not identified) two trombonists (likewise) and several others. There is also a number or two with a backbeat- a portent of what was to come for this band. Yet now they had a good jazz policy and are wonderful to hear.
Andy Kirk is next from 1948, the year he disbanded his band, which has a unidentified personnel. He names two of the tenor players: Ray Abrams and Shirley(?) Jackson who both play very well. The band models itself on Lionel Hampton of the period (there is a "Flying Home"-like number) and is very good. Once again there are several portents of the future.
Last are numbers from the film "Rhythm in a Riff" featuring the Billy Eckstein band of 1946. Art Blakey is on drums and Gene Ammons, Frank Wess, King Kolax (from Chicago) and Billy take the soloes. Less bebop than swing but they do play Tadd Dameron's arrangement of "Our Delight". It's wonderful to have this stuff all collated together.
All in all a great package and an enjoyable hour of jazz. Portents of the future are there to people to see-for the consequences, such as what happened to Cab Calloway, find the five VHS tapes of Snader transcriptions from the early fifties such as "Basin Street Review".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ART BLAKEY, January 5, 2011

By 

JAZZYWILLY - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Black Big Bands (DVD)

I WAS LOOKING FOR IMAGES OF ART BLAKEY IN THE BIG BAND OF BILLY ECKSTINE

And he is present !!
It is ironic that other beboppers made a start in the Billy Eckstine band !