Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen (1979/MVD Visual)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: C-     Concert: C+

 

 

After seeing so many Jazz concerts, most of which were on analog or HD video and many that are just not that memorable.  A 1979 film of Kenny Ball & His Jazz Men is actually not bad, made in color 16mm film and with both editing and cinematography choices that give this much more character than most Jazz concerts that followed make it an interesting work for all music and video fans to check out.  Songs include:

 

1)     Panama Rag

2)     Blues For Brown

3)     St. James Infirmary Blues

4)     Dark Eyes

5)     Maryland, My Maryland

6)     Midnight In Moscow

7)     Old Man Moses

8)     I Shall Not Be Moved

9)     When The Saints Go Marching In

 

 

I also very much liked Ball talking to the audience in between each music number with interesting things to say.  You would never see this today because despite more video media than ever, people have a harder time than ever being themselves on camera.  Musicians and performers should see this one, especially if they play Jazz.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is a little too soft for its own good, but through that you can see how good the filming really is.  This deserves an HD transfer for certain.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is not bad for its age, but is too flat and even lower in volume than it should be.  In combination with the picture, this is second-generation material.  Extras are not a solitary interview as listed on the back of the DVD case, but text bios on the musicians and a discography.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo