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He may have been "just a gigolo," but it's easy to understand why LouisPrima continues to find audiences both young and old. The trumpeter andbandleader was at the forefront of the rock & roll movement, he was the epitomeof the cool, singing and swinging Italian crooner ("Oh Marie"), and he achievedimmortality as King Louie in Disney'sJungle Book. But the entertaineralso went through five wives, struggled to keep up with new musical trends, and,ultimately, will be remembered as one of the world's great lounge acts.

Louis Prima: The Wildest chronicles his rise to fame from his early yearsin the French Quarter of New Orleans to his glory days in Sin City. Interviewswith jazz critics, former wife Keely Smith, and numerous bandmates abound inthis well-made documentary. But the real highlight for Prima fans will be thelive music footage, showcasing Smith and Prima singing in their prime, hiscrackerjack band that knew how to swing, twist, and (yes) rock when it mattered,and Prima's incredible stage presence. The fascinating footage is abundant here- -from "Chinatown" to "Sing, Sing, Sing" to an awe-inspiring performance of "I'min the Mood for Love." No one can ever sum up what makes Prima so magical, butthe music speaks for itself. Added DVD features include some uncut concertperformances and a few audio-only bonus tracks. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A fitting tribute to one wild cat
Great review of this jazz master's career, from New Orleans, to New York (where he penned the immortal "Sing, Sing, Sing") and on to his later triumph as a Vegas showman. His gift, and his gab, are clearly on display here through archive footage and kinetoscopes of early TV appearances with Keely Smith. Loaded with interviews, photos, recordings and rare films. If you think you knew about Louis Prima, this documentary will open your eyes. Among some of the funniest moments are some footage of Louis recording the Disney tune "I wanna be just like you" for THE JUNGLE BOOK. A great film about one of the 20th Century's great jazz artists.

Great Documentary on Louis Prima with Terrific Performances.
This DVD is great. Louis Prima was a little before my time in real life. I became a fan long after his death. This has some amazing vintage footage as well as some current footage of this legend of swing.
Its a great lesson on importance of showmanship.
It is thoroughly enjoyable.

Good insight into the man and his music.
This is a nice bio of one of the legends of Las Vegas and beyond. Louis' life is explored from his family's immigration on through to his death in the late 70s. There are many insightful moments represented here thanks to interviews with music historian Will Friedwald, Prima's bandmates Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Gia Maione and others as well as members of Prima's family. Overall it's a nice production but I wish there could have been more concert footage where instead a song like "Just a Gigolo" is played over stock footage of the Vegas strip and people gambling in casinos. What concert footage there is though, is priceless with Louis, Keely and Sam hamming it up for "Just a Gigolo" and "That Old Black Magic" as well as a duet with Gia Maione on "I Want You" that is one of this video's highlights. The main problem with the video is that it leaves you wanting more. Much more.

Primo Prima
My family has enjoyed Louis Prima for a couple of years. But until we saw this video, we didn't know what kind of over-the-top performer he was. He is the Wildest. The clips featuring the high energy wailings of Sam Butera are the best.

Thoroughly entertaining, hilarious documentary
This documentary is a real treat. Louis Prima was such a tremendous showman, with so much energy. The places he lived - New Orleans, Las Vegas - are also fun to watch. But it is the performances, particularly with his wife Keely Smith, that are a blast to watch. I'd recommend this to any music fan, but particular those who like the Rat Pack, rhythm and blues or New Orleans music. But Louis is so fun, I think just about anybody would have a great time watching it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A perfect companion to Straight Life autobiography
This work was made in 1982 which was the time of Mr Pepper's post smack post prison renaissance documented musically on the wonderful 16CD Galaxy Box Set issued c1990. Although the film is only 42 minutes plus credits there is nothing superfluous on it and for a music lover, the live performance of PATRICIA is worth the price of the DVD. But Mr Pepper is also an articulate, honest individual and the viewer is made privy to his bedroom, his dreams, origin and meaning of his tats, his eating habits, upbringing, and prison experience et al. I've never tired of his music and this DVD is a complementary and essential document for one of the most expressive, talented musicians of the last century. He says in the film: "I'm a genius. I don't know anyone who can play the alto better than I can at this moment." The amazing thing is, I didn't wince when he said this. He may have been right. He was also quite a funny guy with a self-deprecating wit.

This DVD is a Great Document Of A Great Jazz Musician
I came to like Art Pepper later in my musical journey. I was always more of a trumpet fan, having only come to appreciate the saxophone after hearing John Coletrane or Cannonball Adderly play on Miles Davis records. Point is, I was never a huge fan of the sax. But in 2001 I stumbled upon a cd in a library, "Art Pepper Thursday Night At The Village Vanguard" and it sounded so real, so raw, and yet so polished that it actually PUTS you in the legendary club for the gig. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke, the booze, hear and feel the people around you, pressing in to take in the live jazz, done by a genius. I then purchased the rest of the cd series, "Friday Night", "Saturday Night" and "More For Les". These Art Pepper discs contain masterful playing, captured at a peak of sorts with a rhythm section that put the songs first, not the solos.

Needless to say, when this Art Pepper DVD came out, I had to have a look. It is a very sober interview with a man who has had many un-sober days, and he tackles the tough questions head-on. From telling how it felt to do heroin for the first time, for the thirtieth time, to his experience with de-tox and withdrawal agony in a cell in prison, to finally meeting his daughter and writing a song for her even though his gestures were never re-ciprocated, this is a painful, intimate look at the man, the music, the mess and the mystique of jazz. It really puts you there with him for an hour or so, both playing and telling you about it. If you like the "feel" of jazz, of blues, this delivers a good short dose of it. Get this, dim the lights, and enjoy! --mf

A Must See For All Jazz Fans
This is a wonderful memory of a battered genius that was able to come back one more time and make an unequaled contribution to the jazz world.

A Must See For All Jazz Fans
After seeing this poignant and moving video about the torture and genius of a true jazz great, I had to make a comment.Having followed his music since the days of Stan Kenton, it's wonderful to be able to retain a little piec of his music on video. This should be in every jazz fan's library.

Stunningly candid behind the scenes with a jazz legend.
Art Pepper's torturous life story is told by the man himself and the woman who saved his life. This video not only presents his story but a few amazing performances which find Pepper squeezing every bit of soul into his horn. Riveting viewing and a treasure for the live bits. ... Read more

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Don McGlynn's uncompromising and soulful documentary look at the tumultuous life of musician and rebel Charles Mingus is fascinating stuff. Mingus said of himself "I am half black man, half yellow man, but I claim to be a Negro. I am Charles Mingus, the famed jazz musician--but not famed enough to make a living in America." His statement summed up the conflict that plagued this musical genius his entire life: volatility, pain, prescience, and raw rage roiled inside a complex man, composer, bass player, and trombonist who transcended labels and refused to be pigeonholed into a single musical style--and who did not achieve real fame until late in his career. The documentary is full of well-preserved footage and contains interviews with many Mingus followers like Wynton Marsalis as well as performances by icons Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Gerry Mulligan. The film traverses past the musical legend with insight and information into Mingus's personal life, his civil rights activism, and his final triumph in the music world--just as his body began to deteriorate from Lou Gehrig's disease--to his eventual death in 1979. Mingus left a legacy composed of genius, vulnerability, brilliance, anarchy, and, as one friend noted, "the entire range of human emotion that is reflected in his music." --Paula Nechak ... Read more

Reviews (11)

I highly recommend this video
There are so many good things to say about this video. Let me start with saying that Mingus's "Epitaph" is covered in detail: both the 1962 Town Hall performance that was a disaster and the Gunther Schuller tribute perfomance made after Monk's death, are both amply covered including interviews with key musicians who played in both performances. One of the musicians interviewed had two of his front teeth knocked out when Mingus belted him in the mouth during an argument concerning who would do some of the orchestrations for "Epitaph". There are interviews with two of Mingus's wives, and towards the end there is an interview with one of Mingus's sons. I personally have read Mingus's wierd "autobiography" and that was a great help priming me to really enjoy this video. There are a lot of video clips of various concerts that Mingus gave, and these are valuable both because they show Mingus playing bass as well as conducting his own music. I was watching a bass player last night at Birdland on 44th Street in NYC, and I was very surprised to notice while watching this video today that the bass player, a young woman from Norway, was copying Mingus's style of plunking the lowest string to make a woody, vibratory sound. I recently heard the Charles Mingus sampler by Ken Burns and as a result of that CD was already beginning to develop a respect for the beauty of Mingus' distinctive compositional sound. This video helped me to better understand why Mingus has so many loyal fans. I am well on my way to becoming one of them. In summary, I think this video is very worthwhile. There are a *lot* of other good things about this video I have not even touched upon in this brief review. The people who made this video put a lot of thought and care and effort into making it.

An American Icon or Iconoclast?
Charles Mingus, one of the most creative forces in American 20th Century music, is examined in depth through archive footage and interviews with two former wives and numerous former bandmates. The music of Charles Mingus goes beyond simple categorization. Schooled in classical music, with his early professional exposure in the Los Angeles swing scene, Mingus moved through numerous styles, working with the major innovaters, such as Duke Ellington, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Eric Dolphy. A volatile personality, his gentle and extreme sides are both in view. My favorite scenes are of Mingus' responses to stupid questions. By the end of this film, even those people who do not appreciate jazz will agree to Charles Mingus' place as one of the finest composers & musicians in American history.

Outstanding!
Definitely ranks up there with "Straight No Chaser" and "A Great Day In Harlem". The interviews with Mingus' sidemen are priceless, as are the discussions with Sue and Celia Mingus. A crucial documentary for serious fans.

after viewing
strictly raccomanded to everyone intends to play doublebass. After viewing, these are the possibilities:

starting to play day and night; mumbling something like: uhm, it's not so good for me, after all. But I could start playng something else!

A fascinatin work
I wasn't that familiar with jazz music before I saw this documentary, but I found it fascinating and very moving. The music was involving, and the life story very dramatic. It made me want to explore this music much more. A great documentary. ... Read more

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The Legend of Teddy Edwards is a loving tribute to a jazz musician's jazz musician. A great player who gigged with Max Roach, Clifford Brown, and Charlie Parker, among others, Teddy Edwards never quite achieved the success his talent deserved. He was always a stalwart of the Los Angeles jazz scene, and in this film we see the tenor saxophonist (now nearing 78 years old) reminiscing about his life and performing with his current working band. It's great to hear a musician play who still has it, and, by God, Teddy Edwards still has it. As proof, there's a 1962 performance from Jazz Scene USA. Like vintage wine from fine old kegs, he just gets better. --Kristian St. Clair ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Funny, enlightening, with great music
This one is a real keeper. It is also an eye opener, and a lot of fun.

Teddy Edwards is one of those great jazz players who I knew a little bit about, and always liked. He's not as famous as some of his collaborators, like Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon, but he is great nonetheless.

What's so wonderful about this documentary is that it really gives time for Teddy's story and personality to emerge. Obviously, he was comfortable speaking on camera, and he talks frankly about a lot of things - his tough childhood growing up in Mississippi, racism, playing in whorehouses and strip clubs, performing on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. There's a lot of funny annecdotes and he presents a lot of the facts in his life. But you also get a strong feeling for his personal philosophy and his strong determination as an artist, even though he hasn't had the success he deserves.

While his comments are very revealing, and there are some other nice interview sections with people like Dexter Gordon, Clora Bryant and Ernie Andrews, it is the music which is the most fascinating. It said in the liner notes that Teddy was in his 70s when the documentary was made, which is pretty amazing. Teddy's one sharp looking dude, who looks (and plays) like someone half his age. All the music looks and sounds great, and there is a lot of it, all in complete performances. When he is playing a ballad, though, you can tell it is the work of a seasoned pro. He really plays beautifully on two romantic numbers, "Regina" and "I'm So Afraid of Love".

There are also some nice extras on the DVD, including another couple of music numbers, and a poem that Edwards recites, which is a very strong indictment of racism. Very intense. ... Read more