Ken Burns Jazz

[erjohns]

I've been trying for the life of me to identify a piece by Louis Armstrong in episode four. Matt Glazer is describing it right at the beginning of the episode. I appreciate any help with this.

[Tenor Titan]

Sorry I can't help you, but that documentary is so great. I've seen probably a hundred times. "Dedicated to Choas" is my favorite segment. Someone will probably be alone soon to identify that Armstrong tune.

[erjohns]

Agreed. I've used that series to introduce friends to jazz

[Gunny]

"Stardust". At least it's the first song that Louise plays in Episode 4. This is followed by commentary by Stanley Crouch while Louise keeps playing the song. If you have the DVD set, then go to "Special Features", then select "Music Information Mode" and turn it "On".

Once you've done that, every time music starts while watching the DVD, the songs title will pop up on the screen for several seconds.

I've only made it through Episode 5 so far. An outstanding box set, as would be expected from Ken Burns.

[erjohns]

Alas, I'm lacking the DVD version. Netflix carries it and thats how I'm watching. The song in question starts at about 10 min in.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by erjohns

Alas, I'm lacking the DVD version. Netflix carries it and thats how I'm watching. The song in question starts at about 10 min in.

Then it is "Stardust" that you are thinking about. It started about 10 minutes in.

[erjohns]

Introduction

Mr Rich Man (blues piece)
Stardust -5 min
Stanley Crouch
Episode title
Blues instrumental (not sure)
Ellington tune
Intro of Norma Miller
Savoy intro
Section called Mr Armstrong -13min
(This is the tune I'm looking for)

[erjohns]

Figured it out...it's the instrumental break in the middle of Chinatown, My Chinatown.

[Kevin Murray]

This is a great series, but man oh man... Wynton Marsalis gets all of the limelight. If you like him as a person/player, its all good (I think he's allright), but if you don't like him (I know a lot of people don't) it could ruin the whole show.

I mean, Wynton has so much respect for jazz and jazz/American history, yet he openly rips on Miles Davis. Me being a HUGE Miles fan, this kind of turns me away from him... How can you have so much respect for the great players, yet accuse Miles of "selling out" and "playing for the people, not what he felt" ??? Again, this is mind-boggling, especially how Wynton confronted Miles on June 28, 1986... Man, that's just stupid.

[Hot Ptah]

Originally Posted by Kevin Murray

This is a great series, but man oh man... Wynton Marsalis gets all of the limelight. If you like him as a person/player, its all good (I think he's allright), but if you don't like him (I know a lot of people don't) it could ruin the whole show.

I mean, Wynton has so much respect for jazz and jazz/American history, yet he openly rips on Miles Davis. Me being a HUGE Miles fan, this kind of turns me away from him... How can you have so much respect for the great players, yet accuse Miles of "selling out" and "playing for the people, not what he felt" ??? Again, this is mind-boggling, especially how Wynton confronted Miles on June 28, 1986... Man, that's just stupid.

I wonder if any of these issues have ever been discussed before on this forum.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally Posted by Hot Ptah

I wonder if any of these issues have ever been discussed before on this forum.

Many times. It's always been an issue for quite a few.

[tpt1]

Guys, Kevin is 13 years old.

[Kevin Murray]

Originally Posted by tpt1

Guys, Kevin is 13 years old.

Hahaha.
Yes.

And I'm completely shocked that you guys have ever discussed Wynton before... I mean, he's not really popular or anything. Kind of an "underground" type of guy. And him and Miles Davis -- I mean, nobody's really heard of them being rivals. Most people I've asked thought they were best friends, which totally makes sense... I mean, they both are completely unknown, and collaborating seems pretty normal to me. Wow.

Any links to some threads?

[Tenor Titan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Murray

Hahaha.
Yes.

And I'm completely shocked that you guys have ever discussed Wynton before... I mean, he's not really popular or anything. Kind of an "underground" type of guy. And him and Miles Davis -- I mean, nobody's really heard of them being rivals. Most people I've asked thought they were best friends, which totally makes sense... I mean, they both are completely unknown, and collaborating seems pretty normal to me. Wow.

Any links to some threads?

Wynton served his time with Blakey, has nine Grammys, recorded a handful of classic albums, and won the Pulitzer Prize. He is well known and popular. That being said, Jazz musicians have a right to critique each other. I mean Miles trash talks Charlie Parker at times in his autobiography, but that's because it sounds like Miles is just telling the truth about how Bird was. I've heard interviews where Jackie McLean was putting down Donald Byrd for getting into fusion. These musicians earned a right to say whatever they want about jazz. They are jazz.

[xybert]

Originally Posted by Kevin Murray

This is a great series, but man oh man... Wynton Marsalis gets all of the limelight. If you like him as a person/player, its all good (I think he's allright), but if you don't like him (I know a lot of people don't) it could ruin the whole show.

I mean, Wynton has so much respect for jazz and jazz/American history, yet he openly rips on Miles Davis. Me being a HUGE Miles fan, this kind of turns me away from him... How can you have so much respect for the great players, yet accuse Miles of "selling out" and "playing for the people, not what he felt" ??? Again, this is mind-boggling, especially how Wynton confronted Miles on June 28, 1986... Man, that's just stupid.

Is it really that mind boggling? A lot of people share his opinion. I don't, but i see where he is coming from. From memory Miles himself was pretty open about wanting to appeal to a wider audience (citation needed). There are several legit reasons to dislike Wynton; expressing his honest opinion of another artist is in my opinion not one of them (Miles was quite ruthlessly opinionated himself, in his time).