Customer Reviews

Maestro

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At first I thought it would be a NY vs Chicago type of thing, which it wasn't. However, you hear very little about Chicago, except during interviews with Frankie Knuckles, or about Ron Hardy. That would be the only negative aspect of the film I observed.

This film gives a clear distinction between NY Dance and Chicago House. I appreciate the fact that at no time did it feel like a competition-of-sorts. When a time line is presented to you, it's very hard to argue with it. And, each group's sound is distinct unto itself. But, it's still all "FAMILY"

The phrase "UNDERGROUND" is used too loosely these days. When it comes to music genre(s), NY Dance/Chicago House are true Underground music. You can't deny it when major record labels, as a whole, refuse to include original dance/house tracks on major releases. But, they are more than happy to let DJs/Re-mixers/Producers put out separate "authorized" productions. You are truly "underground" when the bottom line does-not-compute.

In closing, I would ask the younger people/dancers to research the history of "The Circle". This portion of the DVD made me shiver; it hit so close to home. Complete your journey by researching CAPOEIRA, an Afro-Brasilian martial art originating back more than 300 years ago. In the film, the dancers couldn't hold in their joy, their desire, their NEED to be a part of The Circle. Your Circle, called The Roda (pronounced Ho-dah) and the acrobatics involved are linked directly to Capoeira. Every aspect of the dancers' experiences, described in the film, are "exactly" what Capoeira is all about. This could be an avenue Josell Ramos could investigate.

JACK IT UP................. Keep House/Dance Alive!!!!!!!

Coming from Chicago, being a DJ, and who loves house and dance music, we always heard of Paradise Garage and Larry Levan, and of course, Frankie Knuckles, but this should have been called the Larry Levan story. I love the old footage from the club, and the information about other places like "The Loft". What is missing is what made all this clubs so special......THE MUSIC!!!!!! The movie started with "Disco Circus", but it had very few songs through out the piece to really take you back. They should have gotten at least some of the Salsoul collection movie the movie along. I wanted to love it, but it's ok.

Ramos does a great job of documenting the beginning of the underground Black gay club scene in New York City. For me it was nostalgic. Great footage and interviews. Kudos to Ramos for putting this project together on film.

I am from the Soundfactory Bar(Wednesday nights) , Club shelter,The redzone era..
This DVD for me was a mind opening experience of the innovators
in the NY scene. Loved the history. It also Reminded me of the time I Danced in the circles at the bar. I would have loved for them to have continue on to the era I was in, but maybe that Could be done on the next dvd a part 2?? So If you are a dancer or Dj and you want to know the history of House/underground movement this is a must see. P.S. I literally got up at the end when the credits where flowing and started dancing. The Spirit was still In me!!!!!!

If you're a fan of Garage/House Music from late 70's to early 80's, you will enjoy the details. If not, there is too much talk about the characters and not enough about the music. However, the bonus interviews were really good. The creativity is there in the documentary, but just not enough music.

This isn't just the best documentary of it's type; it's the only one. The movie traces the history of Club Music & Culture from the Loft (New York) in the early 70's to the Warehouse and the Music Box (Chicago)in the mid 80's. And much of it focuses on the "missing link" period of the early 80's when Larry Levan held the torch after disco had "died" and before house music was "invented." My only complaint is that I wish there was more...more footage of the Paradise Garage, more classic underground tracks, and more memories. If you like Electronic Dance Music and/or Music History, you will love this. At times it is very inspirational (as people tell of their amazing experiences at these legendary clubs and the impact of the originators is weighed) and sad (as the impact of AIDS is discussed).

THIS DOCUMENTARY OF HOUSE MUSIC..WAS FANTASTIC! AND IN MY OPINION NOT NEARLY LONG ENOUGH, I COULD HAVE WATCHED IT FOR HOURS. MAESTRO TOOK ME BACK...WAAAAAAAAAY BACK TO A TIME WHEN WE AS PEOPLE ( NOT GENDER ) HAD A LOVE FOR MUSIC! LARRY LEVAN, FRANKIE KUNCKLES, WILL FOREVER BE HOUSE HOLD LEGEND NAMES! I THANK WHO EVER CREATED MAESTRO AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK BACK AT HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED THIS FILM IS FOR YOU! I EVEN GOT A CHANCE TO SEE A FEW FRIENDS IN MOVIE..LIKE CHINO 3 AND A FEW OTHERS.

If you want to know about house music and how the scene was born then please watch this masterpiece. The editing and filming is of superior quality. I am happy to see someone put some much care and work into this sub-culture. There is just the right amount of interviews, music and dance to keep the movie flowing nicely. It is amazing! Buy it now.

Being a DJ from Chicago I must say this is one of the best docus I have ever seen! Way to go!! I was at a Frankie Knuckles party a few years ago when Frankie showed a clip and told the crowd that they would be filming at the party....So as I am sure to say I was in absolute shock when I brought this dvd and viewed second dvd to find me in the crowed jackin off of my old friend Jamie Principle's performance! I will never forget that night and once more I have been immortalized!!!! giggles! House Nation ONE!!! Learn some history buy this DVD!

I came to the New York City club scene in the mid-90s when people like Michael Alig and the club kids were all the rage. I never knew the history of what came before them. I just figured disco transitioned into the gay club scene. Maestro helped fill in the gaps in my gay history knowledge.

It was fun to learn about a whole period of time that directly inspired things you've experienced. Maestro puts a face on the people and places that innovated and laid the groundwork for the Tunnel and Twilo and Roxy and Limelight that followed. That face was Larry Levan. This was such an interesting documentary.

Of course, the movie had to go into the sad AIDS era that almost every gay documentary goes through but that's what really happened and ignoring it won't help. I highly recommend watching this movie. It also works as a great companion piece with Paris is Burning to give a good snapshot of what was going on with the gay underground in New York City in the 1980s.