Customer Reviews

Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Both jazz fans and country fans will love the recent collaboration between trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and country music icon Willie Nelson. When their two performances at Jazz From Lincoln Center in January 2007 were recorded and released by Blue Note this summer, the album jumped to the top of the jazz, pop and country charts. Thanks to Eagle Eye Media, the "match made in heaven" is available to see, as well as to hear, on Willie and Wynton" Live From Lincoln Center. The 85-minute film (not video) contains extended solos and, on hot numbers like Louis Jordan's "Caldonia", Nelson plays his acoustic guitar as though he was always playing jazz. The camera moves very quickly and rarely spends more than five seconds on an image, which is the only defect I could find. This is an historic moment and the performances of old pop and jazz standards create a DVD I'll certainly watch again.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"/In The Groove

I'm a long time fan of both Willie and Wynton and I can tell you that this intimate and spectacular concert is played at a much higher artistic level than I have ever seen or expected from both.

Wynton does not try to upstage but to complement Willie like a true second line musician. He uses a wide variety of mutes, colors and even singing and humble, involved and charming commentary to make his points.

Willie's guitar playing is amazing. He takes his usual Django Reinhart-inspired acoustic guitar style to reach deep into his soul to draw a high-level jazz performance out of his heart He swings like never before.

Sharing the front-line with Willie and Wynton is the surprising leadership of Mickey Rafael, Willies harmonica players. Insteadof choosing to use a Little Walter "Mississippi saxophone" style or a straight harp country harp style, Rafael draws deep in his sould to pull out a Sonny Boy Williamson II style "St. Louis" trumpet sound which like Clark Terry and Miles Davis emphasized economy of notes and maximizes sound colors and feeling. His performance is so striking that the documentarian has to insert a short discussion of Mickey Rafaelto answer "Who was that guy on harp?" questons.

I spent two hours a couple of years in Wynton's NY condo sipping on a glass of Armanac as we discussed Sonny Boy Williamson II's story and the institutionalized racism of the Mississippi delta. He called his children and ex-wife, listened to a couple of students who stopped by, and taught a few more some advice on the phone all the timewriting a book and some music with his trademark trumpet on the table. He's the real deal and exactly like the Wynton you see in the documentary.

Enjoy.

What can I say, except wish I had been there. Willie Nelson is a national treasure and I'm really starting to fall in love with Wynton - smile.

Smooth, exceptional performance. Exceptional quality as you would expect from Lincoln center. Commentary by Wynton and Willie add important dimension that make the music even better. High quality jazz and blues for both the refined jazz listener and the casual listener.
Will Fleenor

Willie again finds a way to blend his unique country style with that of a renown artist of a different genre. Awesome jazz with an interesting twist!

The world class skills and the mutual respect of these musicians is evident as they have fun together. The listener will share in the festivities. Buy it if you like these gentlemen.

So much joy I can't sit still. This is the best: getting these two guys who are full of it on same NYC stage bouncing off each other & some sensational backups -- riffing on what they're doing, the Blues.
Always thought Willie Nelson handsome, but would love to see his profile carved into eternity @ Mt. Rushmore, along with a few other American icons.
Love the historic tour of famous NYC jazz clubs as backdrop too.

Very enjoyable DVD. My wife is a little bit country and I am a jazz fan. We both loved it. Sounds like an odd couple, but it comes off great!

First CD would not play. Replacement CD would not play. I gave up.