Search - One Night With Blue Note: The Historic All-Star Reunion Concert on DVD

A must-own dvd for any collection of jazz films

C. Rotolo | 06/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"An essential dvd re-release of the original multi-volume vhs document of the historic Town Hall (NYC) concert of February 1985 that celebrated the rebirth of the Blue Note label. Much comment has been written regarding the re-editing of the film footage and the modified selection of performances. As one would expect, the picture quality, color balance and sound are superior to the vhs versions. The producers attempted to enlarge the 'space' of the performances with wider-angle footage (the vhs film is mostly tight-focus on individuals on-stage). It is puzzling, however, that they chose not to employ the wide-screen 'letterbox' format (especially in light of the fact that the 1997 documentary film, "Blue Note: A Story Of Modern Jazz", uses the wide-screen format and has wide-screen film clips from this concert). Nonetheless, the dvd is a great visual show.As a hard-bop enthusiast, I am pleased for the most part with the revised selection of performances. Inclusion of Joe Henderson's "Recorda-me", Jackie MacLean's "Appointment In Ghana", and Stanley Turrentine's "Scratch My Back" are welcome additions. Of the two Stanley Jordan performances on the vhs tapes, the dvd includes the more entertaining "Jumpin'Jack". Likewise, of the three Charles Lloyd numbers from the vhs, the dvd retains the best of the three, "Tone Poem". On the negative side, McCoy Tyner's performance of "Passion Dance" was excluded. Regardless, the three major highlights of the concert, Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island", Art Blakey's "Moanin'", and Cecil Taylor's solo "Pontos Cantados", are here in all their splendor and are worth the price of admission alone.Nice menu options for Blue Note fans are the fine galleries of Francis Wolff's photography and Reid Miles' album cover designs. My one criticism of these features is that the graphic design for the galleries distracts somewhat from the power and presence of the images.Overall, this is an essential addition to any jazz enthusiast's library. Now its time for Blue Note to issue the perfect companion to it - the dvd version of "Blue Note: A Story of Modern Jazz"!"

Diasappointing reissue

William E Donoghue | Healdsburg CA USA | 01/07/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have had the two laser disk version of this show for a long time and this version is not only missing several excellent Charles Lloyd Quartet performance but has, in some insane effort to include the audience substituted some decidedly inferior angles to change the original footage. As such its a big disappointment. Frankly, I think the laser disk version is clearly superior. The few extra added cuts are nice but the missed footage is inexcusable."

Still the best jazz film ever made

Miles from Home | New York City | 10/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As has been noted by nearly every reviewer of the recently reissued DVD version of "One Night With Blue Note", the changes to the original film (made in 1985 and released on VHS and laserdisc) are controversial and questionable. No one can say the enhanced image and sound quality aren't improvements, and the additional music is certainly welcome, but this was a movie made by a filmmaker with a very clear intent - to show the intimate interplay between jazz musicians. This was accomplished through extended close-ups and very observant musical intercutting. Director John Jopson and Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson did a masterful job in capturing the personalities of the musicians and it seems a shame to randomly throw in audience shots from some other event - and in video format at that. (I wonder what those people think watching this DVD, seeing themselves enjoying a show they never attended.)

To film more than forty of the greatest jazz musicians in the world for over 3 hours is a daunting task. This movie was shot on film, not video, so there had to be film magazine changes every ten minutes on each of the multiple cameras. To do this without missing important moments is incredibly difficult and requires planning, a good ear, and spontaneity. On the original version there was a great interplay during one set where we see Freddie Hubbard's amazed reaction to Herbie Hancock's piano solo. This shot really said something - how these musicians can blow each other away. Throughout the film the Director doesn't hesitate to cut away to what the other musicians are doing, even during a solo. To be fair much of this artful editing is still intact, but it's a disservice to the filmmaker and the viewer to go back in and change the intent.

Most importantly, thanks to Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna the greatest night in jazz history has been well documented, and at least we know the original footage is still in the Blue Note vaults in case some future aficionado wants to restore the film to its original form for the next generation. Or how about releasing a Director's Cut? I'll bet everyone who owns the DVD would buy yet another version: We know from the CDs and the tracks that were removed from the original version (ie the Charles Lloyd and Stanley Jordan tunes) that there must be a lot of footage yet to be released.

Nevertheless the DVD version is still an incredible film and well worth the investment. If you're a jazz lover buy the DVD and look for the vhs or laserdisc on eBay. "One Night With Blue Note" is simply the best jazz movie ever made."

Real jazz

Per Caco | France | 06/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best jazz compilation on DVD I ever bought.
If you are found of real, main stream jazz, a lot of music to make your dreams coming true.
Special mention for Fredie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock on the first and second take.
For me, the most musical and impressive song is "appointment in Ghana" played by Jackie Mc Lean and Woody Shaw. Since this listenning, Mr McLean is one of my favorite alto saxophone player and is definitely another white brother. Woody Shaw is absolutly phenomenal in the way he reflects the deepest emotion.
A DVD to be collected for true jazz lovers."