Search - Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Season 1 on DVD

Great Performers & Performances

T. Davis | Seattle, WA | 03/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like Marian McPartland's long-running Piano Jazz series on public radio, Ramsey Lewis' Legends of Jazz on PBS presents and preserves intimate interviews and superb sessions with some of the most reknowned musical artists of our day. This 3-DVD set includes all 12 half-hour episodes from the first season in high-quality picture and surround sound. In addition, there are bonus interviews with guests, the producer, and the host, as well as a behind-the-scenes photo gallery.

The beauty of the series concept lies in its use of themes and its pairing of complementary talents who talk about the legacy they are carrying on and jam together with tremendous sympathy and grace. Lewis' low-key style both charms us and allows his guests to shine. And what guests they are:

The Golden Horns: trumpeters Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti
The Jazz Singers: Al Jarreau and Kurt Elling
Contemporary Jazz: George Duke, Lee Ritenour and Marcus Miller
The Altos: sax players David Sanborn and Phil Woods
The Piano Masters: Dave Brubeck and Dr. Billy Taylor
Roots of Jazz - The Blues: Robert Cray and Keb Mo
The American Songbook: Jane Monheit and John Pizzarelli
Latin Jazz: Eddie Palmieri and Dave Valentin
The Tenors: saxophonists Benny Golson, Chris Botter and Marcus Strickland
Brazilian Jazz: Oscar Castro-Neves and Ivan Lins
The Killer Bs: Hammond B3 organists Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco
The Great Guitars: Pat Metheny and Jim Hall
NEA Jazz Masters 2006: Chick Corea, Ray Barretto and Tony Bennett

I look forward to another season of this fine program.

Available at the Legends of Jazz website are video clips from the programs and free classroom guides with profiles, quizzes, and comprehensive discographies, videographies, and bibliographies for series artists and many other jazz legends. A wonderful resource for turning on our newest generation to the glories of America's classical music. Check it out!"

The materialization of a long, long dream!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 08/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ramsey Lewis has earned an astonishing reputation as presenter, he is a good talker and besides let his guests talk to bring us the best of their craft.

In this compilation there are many highlights but mostly the chapter of the three generations of sax players (Benny Golson, Chris Botter and Markus Strickland) and the Latin Jazz represented by Eddie Palmieri and Dave Valentin was simply overwhelming.

Since its immediate release, this successful and so long expected musical program dedicated to jazz became a cult favourite program and captured a vast portion of dispersed audience all around U.S. and overseas, who love and appreciate this musical genre.

Of course, you will enjoy and delight the rest of the serie. It's truly fascinating, mesmerizing and enriching because it `s living history told by their own protagonists.

A kind kudos for the producers who had such brilliant and moreover, the boldness to materialize it.
"

I hope they make another one!

Meredith | Wilmington , NC USA | 01/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this for my husband for his birthday. We both enjoy jazz and collect a lot of DVD's. This one we keep on watching time after time. In fact, he shows it to people when they come over. If you are looking for a nice variety of today's musicians, this is a DVD set for you. It has 13 episodes that are themed either by instrument or style. One episode is entitled "Latin Jazz" and the special guest artist talk about Latin Jazz History and play Latin Jazz music. Another episode is entitled "The Golden Horns" this one is about trumpet players and they talk about the history of trumpet players and have 3 special guest artists that are various ages and play very differently from each other.

It is a wonderful series because you hear a little bit of history, see a short interview with eacher performer, and then hear each performer play, sometimes they will do a duet or trio at the end of the episode as well as play the theme song. I highly recommend this series, my husband and I learned a lot about the performers and it opened out ears to new musicians that we have now become fans of. I would recommend buying all 3 together instead of the vol 1,2, and 3 separately, it will save you a lot of money."

Just buy it!

Rajendra Kumar | Bangalore, South India | 12/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection is a superb. I am waiting for season two! if any that is. Joey Defrancesco and Dr Lonnie Smith Hammond B3 episode is my favorite. These performances are missing in the single DVD version.

Just buy it!"