MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS THE BLUES: A MUSICAL JOURNEY
Various Artists
It may have been underrated when first broadcast on PBS on consecutive nights in the fall of '03, but executive producer Martin Scorsese's homage to the blues is a truly significant, if imperfect, achievement. "Musical journey" is an apt description, as Scorsese and the six other directors responsible for these seven approximately 90-minute films follow the blues--the foundation of jazz, soul, R&B, and rock & roll--from its African roots to its Mississippi Delta origins, up the river to Memphis and Chicago, then to New York, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Some of the films (like Wim Wenders's The Soul of a Man and Charles Burnett's Warming by the Devil's Fire) use extensive fictional film sequences, generally to good effect. There's also plenty of documentary footage, interviews, and contemporary studio performances recorded especially for these films.
The last are among the best aspects of the DVDs, as the bonus material features the set's only complete tunes. Lou Reed's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and the Elektrik Mud Kats' (with Chuck D. of Public Enemy) hip-hop-cum-traditional updating of Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy" are among the best of them; on the other hand, a rendition of "Cry Me a River" by Lulu (?!) is a curious choice, even with Jeff Beck on hand. The absence of lengthier vintage clips, meanwhile, is the principal drawback. For that reason alone, Clint Eastwood's Piano Blues is the best of the lot; a musician himself, Eastwood simply lets the players play, which means we get extensive file footage of the likes of Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Nat "King" Cole, as well as new performances by Ray Charles, Dr. John, and others. Overall, this is a set to savor, a worthwhile investment guaranteed to grow on you over the course of repeated viewings. --Sam Graham
Box Set Special Features Include:
Live performances not seen in the film, including footage of B.B. King, Cassandra Wilson, Chris Thomas King, Lou Reed, Lulu, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, the Electrik Mud Kats (with vocals by Chuck D and Common), Jeff Beck, Hubert Sumlin & David Johansen, Willie Dixon and many others
Director commentaries
On-camera interviews with the directors
Director biographies and filmographies
Special menu options to scan for all music performances
5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes
The Blues trailer
Contents
- The Blues: The Soul of a Man
- The Blues: Feel Like Going Home
- The Blues: Piano Blues
- The Blues: The Road to Memphis
- The Blues: Warming by the Devil's Fire
- The Blues: Godfathers and Sons
- The Blues: Red, White & Blues
Retail Price: $139.95
Online Sale Price: $125.96
Product Details: 7 DVD (NTSC/REGION 1) Box Set
780 Minutes
Product Code: 074645580890
This item usually ships within 5 to 7 business days.
What Are NTSC and PAL?What are NTSC and PAL?
- NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) is a standard used in North America and Japan. It has the ability to display up to 525 lines of resolution on your television.
- PAL (Phase Alternating Line), a standard used almost everywhere else in the world, has the ability to display 625 lines of resolution on your television.
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If you're in North America, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and parts of South America, you use NTSC. Most other areas of the world use PAL. Half of Brazil uses NTSC while the other half uses PAL-M. Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay use PAL-N. The rest of the world uses mainly PAL.
What Does This Mean?
What this means is that if you live in a country that uses NTSC, only this format will be compatible with your player. If you live in a country that uses PAL, most likely only this format will work for you. However, there are many players that will play both formats. The best bet is to check the manual for your DVD player before making a purchase.
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The geographical regions are as follows:
- REGION 0: ALL AREAS OF THE WORLD
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