Product Details

• Actors: Kenny Rankin
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: September 4, 2001
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005NG15
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #93,689 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #5 in	Video > Music Video & Concerts > Jazz > BET on Jazz
  #34 in	Video > Music Video & Concerts > Jazz > Vocalists

• This item is part of The BET on Jazz Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Singer-guitarist Kenny Rankin's high, pure tenor voice and unerring choice of material make this a performance that will delight his fans as well as those who know little or nothing about this underrated musician. Backed by a quartet (with pianist Bill O'Connell and the excellent guitarist Joe Beck) and four string players, Rankin works his way through 16 numbers in this intimate, 75-minute concert, recorded in 2001 in Washington, D.C. He moves effortlessly between standards by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, and others, several Latin-tinged numbers, and a variety of more contemporary material by the Beatles ("Blackbird," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps") and by Rankin himself. While Rankin may not be strictly a jazz or pop singer, neither should he be glibly characterized as an "AOR artist"; there's too much real musicianship happening here to relegate him to background music status. A "Meet the Artist" interview and several audio choices comprise the DVD bonus features. --Sam Graham

Product Description

Famed saxophonist Stan Getz once referred to Kenny Rankin as "the horn with a heart." Rankin's elegant tenor voice and gift for jazz, pop and Latin phrasing have made him a favorite of singers like Mel Torme, Al Jarreau, Tony Bennett and Carmen McRae. In this special concert recorded for the Jazz Channel in Washington, D.C., Rankin enthralls the discriminating audience with a performance of classic favorites.

Songs:
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, When Sunny Gets Blue, Round Midnight, Love is Here to Stay, Sunday Kind of Love, Misty Roses, Blackbird, Birembau, More Than You Know, She's a Lady, In the Name of Love, Soft Guitar, Blame It on My Youth, Peaceful, Haven't We Met, While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kenny Rankin, November 21, 2001

By	Chris Carson (Long Grove, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Kenny Rankin (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

I am a music lover that owns over 2,000 albums/cds ranging from Sinatra to Bill Withers (2 of my all-time favorites) and everywhere between. I'm not into rap at all. Not big on country (though I think singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb is brilliant). I believe that Kenny Rankin is one of the most underappreciated vocalists of all time. His voice is awsome. I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform live about 6 times, mostly in the past 5 years. He was absolutely terrific! I find this recent dvd and cd very enjoyable. Buy it. Better yet, catch one of his live shows. You will LOVE him. I also suggest you visit his web site at kennyrankin.com. Once there you can view his guest book where you will read comments from thousands of fans that are nuts about him. Not too long ago Tony Bennett was having a tough time connecting with the huge base of fans that he now enjoys. I'm happy for him because I think he's great. I wish that Kenny might enjoy a resurgence in popularity similar to Mr. Bennett's because--Kenny Rankin is a rare and gifted artist!

Sincerely,

Chris Carson
Chicago

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He has The Voice, period., December 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Kenny Rankin (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

Kenny Rankin brings to mind James Taylor, with guitar chops. Frankly, his voice is so effortless and beautiful, not much else matters.

I disagree with the other reviewers that this DVD is so well recorded. The guitar sounds dead and the string quartet is too loud. But it does not matter! He has THE voice, in the same way that Sarah Vaughan and Eva Cassidy did. Effortless. Perfect.

Frankly, I think a lot of this was lost on the BET audience. (They're probably still angry about having to sit through Kenny G).

Even if you've never heard of Kenny Rankin, if you like people who don't sound there's any effort at all (and he's never had a lesson) pick up this DVD.

Along with James Taylor, Eva Cassidy and a few others Kenny is an American musical treasure.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, Kenny Rankin is in my livingroom!, September 13, 2001

By	"beezus_martin" (Staten Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jazz Channel Presents Kenny Rankin (BET on Jazz) (DVD)

Each time I've seen Kenny Rankin at the Bottom Line in New York, I've come away amazed by this man's stunning voice. This DVD does not disappoint. His poignant interpretations continue to touch me year after year. I bought a DVD player, just for this performance - I'm glad I did!