Vocal Jazz Singers DVDs

Abbey Lincoln : Great Women Singers of the 20th Century

Review: Abbey is seen a rare 1991 performance at the Promenade Theater in New York. She is at once beautiful, insightful and at the top of her musical gifts. The appearance represents the beginning of a great comeback that has since established her as a legendary jazz vocalist and composer.

Songlist: Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams, Up Jumped Spring, A Time for Love, Bird Alone, You Gotta Pay the Band, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, When I'm Called Home, I'm in Love

Bobby McFerrin : Beyond Words

Review: Beyond Words traces the personal, musical, and career history of 10-time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin, from his earliest musical inspirations through his vast yet intimate experiences in popular music, jazz, choral, orchestral, and solo performance. See how this consummate musician has traveled along the continuum of the musical world to find himself championing singing and performing - beyond instruments, beyod tradition and Beyond Words. In personal interviews, Bobby reveals the difficulties in finding his calling in life, his personal philosophy on creating, his classical origins, the secrets of collaborating, and the importance of family. Featuring interviews and performances with Robin Williams, Chick Corea, James Levine, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and more.

Bobby McFerrin : Live In Montreal

Review: Since a cappella pioneer Bobby McFerrin singlehandedly gave the vocal arts a hand up to a whole new level of possibilities in the 1980s with his iconic hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy," we have looked at him and listened to him with awe and gratitude. Experiencing him perform live several times only increased these feelings exponentially, and we had the feeling that everyone in the audience was on exactly the same page. Well, in the early 90s Bobby seems to have picked up on that, and has invited the audience to participate, and included interaction with guest musicians, all improvised. This has cemented his reputation as a marvelous entertainer, and has created a new kind of concert-not a performance, but a "communal sharing and celebration of music." This is exactly what the new DVD "Live in Montreal" is all about. It's beautifully filmed at the "Festival International de Jazz de Montreal," In these 21 video cuts, part of the audience is right up on stage with Bobby, and he improvises and creates musical events with them and members of the main audience. He improvises with a trapeze artist above him, and with a singing viola player. I'll just list some of the cut titles to give you a taste of what happens in this very special DVD: 12. "Improvisation with Richard Bona," 13. "Improvisation, Country Stuff," 13. "Baby," 14. "Improvisation with Tamango "Well You Needn't," 15. "Bwee Do," 16. "Le Grand Choeur de Montreal, It's a Wonderful World," 17. "Circlesong One," 18. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and 19. "The Wizard of Oz Medley." Bobby is a living a cappella legend, and this live show is creative, funny, touching and simply brilliant. Don't miss this one!

Songlist: Improvisation Style "Little Red Book", Improvisation with the People on Stage, Improvisation with Evelyne Lamontagne on the Trapeze (Extracts from the Opera Carmen), Improvisation with the Audience, Improvisation with Jorane "Riopel", Improvisation "Gonna Move", 'The Jump", "Drive", "Ave Maria', Richard Bona "Dina Lam", Improvisation with Richard Bona, Improvisation "Country Stuff", Baby, Improvisation with Tamango "Well You Needn't", "Bwee Doo", Le Grand Choeur De Montreal "It's A Wonderful World", "Circlesong One", "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", "The Wizard of Oz Medley", Melody from "Sun Concert 5", Sings Walking Off Stage

Bobby McFerrin : Spontaneous Invention

Review: This video was filmed for HBO live at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood in 1986, the year McFerrin won a Grammy - when he was at his first peak as a one man jazz band. It is absolutely marvelous to watch the energy and humor of this musical genius interact with an audience. On the CD you can hear "Thinkin' About Your Body" but you don't see the interlude where McFerrin suddenly starts improvising on someone's leather jacket. Watching him create "Bwee-Dop"using audience participation is very different from just hearing it (which is why it didn't make the CD), and there's no substitute for watching him egg on the crowd to do the hand signals in "Itsy Bitsy Spider," On "Fascinating Rhythm," his expressions are priceless as he emulates a 1940s jazz band. And his duet with/accompaniment to soprano saxaphonist Wayne Shorter is all the more astounding as you see the two of them lock eyes and minds. Of the 12 songs here, only four are on the CD. We highly recommend this DVD! 

Songlist: Scrapple From The Apple/honeysuckle Rose, Bwee-Dop, Cara Mia, Fascinatin' Rhythm, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Thinkin About Your Boy, Drive, Opportunity, I Got the Feelin', Walkin, Blackbird, Manana Iguana, Don't Worry, Be Happy (music video), Good lovin (music video)

Bobby McFerrin : Swinging Bach

Review: "Swinging Bach" is a 122 minute documentary of a festival that took place in the old town square of Leipzig, Germany. before a large, appreciative audience (who are standing throughout, are introduced to the groups in both English and German by an attractive pair of emcees, and who get seriously rained on later in the show). Featured are 12 groups of different genres, mostly instrumental, all playing Bach pieces or variations on Bach pieces. The German Brass and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, directed by Christian Gansch, are followed by a jazz interpretation of "Fugue No. 5 in D Minor" by the Jacques Loussier Trio, then another Bach Concerto and Fugue by the Leipzig orchestra and the German Brass. Then comes one of our favorite pieces, Bobby McFerrin with the G. Leipzig, doing a wonderful faux (violin?) lead on "Orchestra Suite No. 3 in D Minor," followed by more German Brass, G. Leipzig and some nice pieces by two quintets, the Quintessence Saxophone Quintet and Turtle Island String Quintet. Another of our favorites follows, The King' Singers. with a brilliant a cappella medley of Bach samples, "Deconstructing Johann," with their own very funny added lyrics, which we would like to see written down so we could appreciate them more. Quite a few added features follow, our favorites being "Improvisation on "Wachet auf ruft uns de Stimme," featuring Bobby with the Loussier Trio, and a piece with Bobby and the G. Leipzig where he goes into one of his standard concert improvisational vocal riffs. "Swinging" is an amazing event with some particularly nice work by McFerrin and the King' Singers.

Songlist: Concerto in D Major, BWV 972, 1st Movement, Allegro (German Brass), Orchestra Suite No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066, Bouree I/II (GewandhausorchesterLeipsig, Christian GanschFugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850, from "The Well-Tempered Clavier" (JacquesLoussier Trio), Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, Vivace (GewandhausorchesterLeipzig, Christian Gansch), Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (German Brass), Orchestra Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Air (Bobby Mferrin,Gewandhausorchester Leipzig), Concerto in D Major, BWV 972, 3rd Movement, Allegro (German Brass), Fudge Fugue in G Minor (Quintessence Saxaphone Quintet), Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, Allegro (GewandhausorchesterLeipzig, Christian Gansch), "Bach's Lunch," Variations on Themes by J.S. Bach (Turtle Island StringQuartet), Snow What (Turtle Island String Quartet), Deconstructing Johann (King's Singers), Improvisation on "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (Bobby McFerrin/JacquesLoussier Trio), Orchestra suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Gavotte (Jacques Loussier Trio), "Tocatta & Funk & Choral" (Quintessence Saxophone Quintet), "Seven Steps to Bach" J.S. Bach/Miles Davies (Turtle Island String Quartet), Orchestra Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067, Menuet/Badinerie (Jiri Stivin/Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Christian Gansch), "Jazz Medley," Part A (Jiri Stivin & Collegium Quodlibet), "jazz Medley," Part B (Jiri Stivin & Collegium Quodlibet), "Improvisation" (Bobby McFerrin), Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, BWV 1054, Allegro (Jacques Loussier Trio), Orchestra Suite no. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Gigue; End Credits

Bobby McFerrin : Try This At Home

Review: Recorded in front of a live intimate audience at Minneapolis' Walker Arts Center in September 1999, "Try This At Home" features the 10-time grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin in a version of his renowned solo vocal concert. Entirely improvised, the performance displays Bobby's astonishing vocal virtuosity and musicianship, and his gift for audience interaction. With a comedian's sense of timing, an unrestrained zany streak, and an infectious love of every genre of music, Bobby's solo show is not a 'performance' but a communal sharing and celebration of music.

Songlist: Mysteries, Harmonizin, Try this at home, In the morning, Staccato groove, Opera style, The shirt-scratching song, Head in my bed blues, Folk rap, Walkin' on the beat, Out we go, Ducks, The name song, Calyso sing, More singin

Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea : Rendezvoux in New York

Review: Two music legends provide an evening of sheer delight as they blend their astonishing talent, passion and creativity. Chick Corea, one of today's most significant and versatile performers, has never lost his sense of exploration about music. Teamed with virtuoso vocalist Bobby McFerrin, whom Corea describes as a "totally unique artist" and "a genius of spontaneous improvisation," the pair's free-spirited performance soars wit exuberance. Captured in High-Definition Video and CD-quality sound, this rare duet concert at New York City's fame Blue Note Jazz Club was one of the highlights of a Grammy winning reunion celebration chronicling Corea's Amazing four-decade career.

Songlist: Improv 1, The Frog, 'Round Midnight, Autumn Leaves, Cocierto De Aranjuez / Spain, Smile

Celine Dion : All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video

Review: Celine Dion: All the Way. . .A Decade of Song & Video collect sixteen music videos and live performances from the French-Canadian chanteuse. Included are promotional clips and performances of such fan favorites and hits as "The Power of Love," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," "Because You Loved Me," "My Heart Will Go On," and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."

Songlist: The Power of Love, If You Asked Me To, Misled, Beauty and the Beast, Because You Loved Me, It's All Coming Back to Me Now, Love Can Move Mountains, To Love You More, My Heart Will Go On, I'm Your Angel (duet with R. Kelly), That's the Way It Is, If Walls Could Talk, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, All the Way (duet with Frank Sinatra), Then You Look at Me, I Want You to Need Me, Live for the One I Love, Bonus video: It's All Coming Back to Me Now

Chaka Khan : Great Women Singers of the 20th Century

Review: Chaka Khan has been singing for 35 years. The multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning singer began her career in the early 1970s with the pre-imminent funk group Rufus. A beautiful and dynamic vocalist, Chaka was raised on Chicago's South Side. She began her career as a solo artist interestingly, singing jazz. Her fame however, came with contemporary solo funk hits like "I Feel For You" and the classic "I'm Every Woman," which she successfully recorded 10 years before Whitney Houston's cover version. This 1992 live performance at New York's famed jazz club The Blue Note, finds Chaka in the musical environment in which she has always felt most creative. In great voice and surrounded by five talented jazzmen, she performs a rare catalog of songs closely associated wit jazz. Several of which cannot be found on her recordings. She sings the Ellington/Strayhorn "Take The 'A' Train," Rodgers and Hart's "My Funny Valentine," plus "Summertime" and "I Loves You Porgy" from Gershwin's folk opera Porgy and Bess.

Songlist: Intro: Them There Eyes, I Wish You Love, I Loves You Porgy, High Wire, The Aerialist, My Funny Valentine, Carrie, Summertime, Alfie, All of Me

Diana Krall : Live In Rio

Review: Diana Krall has had a long time fascination with bossa nova, a type of music which perfectly suits her sophisticated yet sensual style. This culminated in her new studio album "Quiet Nights" (released by Verve in spring 2009) and in this stunning concert filmed in the home of the bossa nova, Rio de Janeiro, in November 2008. Accompanied by her band and an orchestra, Diana Krall delivers a superb set of standards in true bossa nova style but clearly bearing her unique stamp. This DVD captures Diana Krall at her scintillating best.

Songlist: I Love Being Here With You, Let's Fall in Love, Where or When, Too Marvelous for Words, I've Grown Accustomed to His Face, Walk on By, Frim Fram Sauce, Cheek to Cheek, You're My Thrill, Let's Face the Music and Dance, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, So Nice, Quiet Nights, Este Seu Olhar, The Boy From Ipanema, I Don't Know Enough About You, S'Wonderful, Exactly Like You

Edith Piaf : A Passionate Life

Review: Widely regarded as one of the most popular female singers of all time, Edith Piaf's unique voice and talent earned her an incredible career and the nickname "Little Sparrow." Filmed four years after her death, this French documentary contains a plethora of rare archival footage, film clips of Piaf in some of her greatest performances, and several historic interviews. Among the songs included are "La Vie en Rose," "A Quoi ‚a Sert l'Amour," "Milord," and "Mon Dieu." Edith Piaf: A Passionate Life also provides a retrospective of the singer's life and career, from her birth in 1915 to her death in 1963, and all of the tragedies and highly publicized romances in between.

Songlist: Introduction, Je Sais Comment, La Foule, La Fete Continue, Mon Manege a Moi, Milord, Le Chant D'Amour, Le Droit D'Aimer, A Quoi Ca Sert L'Amour, Heureuse, L'Hymne A L'Amour, L'Accordeoniste, La Vie En Rose, Padam Padam, Chants D'Habits, La Belle Histoire D'Amour, J'en Ai Tant Vu, Mon Dieu, Credits, Bonus Arretez La Musique, Bonus - La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean, Bonus - Padam...Padam, Bonus - Humne A L'Amour, Bonus - Le Roi A Fait Battre Tanbour, Bonus - C'est Merveilleux

Ella Fitzgerald : Live at Montreux, 1969

Review: Eagle Eye Media's Live In Montreux series continues with a travel through time to June 22, 1969, featuring a performance from The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald. Featuring fully restored Black and White footage and remixed audio in 5.1 and DTS, this program presents a stunning performance from one of the most versatile jazz singers of all time. After making a name for herself as the featured singer for Chick Webb's Orchestra in the late 1930's, she began appearing as part of Norman Granz' Jazz At The Philharmonic series. She fronted for Duke Ellington, where she learned her bop style and also began adding scat into her performances. Her recordings of standards and contemporary classics helped boost her career from the 1950's until her final recordings in 1992. Joining Fitzgerald in this performance are: Tommy Flanagan (piano), Frank de la Rosa (bass), and Ed Thigpen (drums).

Songlist: Give Me the Simple Life, This Girl's in Love With You, I Won't Dance, A Place for Lovers, That Old Black Magic, Useless Landscape, I Love You Madly, Trouble Is a Man, A Man and a Woman, Sunshine of Your Love, Well Alright Okay You Win, Hey Jude, Scat Medley, A House Is Not A Home

Ella Fitzgerald : Live in '57 and '63

Review: Jazz Icons: Ella Fitzgerald features "The First Lady of Song" in two distinct performances. The first is the earliest known complete concert of Ella to be captured on film. Shot in Belgium, this 1957 concert has her performing with jazz greats Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Jo Jones and the legendary Oscar Peterson on classics such as "Lullaby of Birdland," and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)." The second show is an intimate in-studio performance from 1963, taped in Sweden, featuring Ella backed by a quartet including pianist Tommy Flanagan. Highlights include stellar versions of "Mack the Knife" and "Just One of Those Things." 56 minutes.

Four Freshmen : Easy Street DVD

Review: "Easy Street" is a rare treat, an opportunity to see the Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan, Ken Albers and the Barbour brothers, Don and Ross) in their prime, in a live (black and white) performance on the Ray Anthony show in 1956! Featured are 21 of the 4F's favorite pop hits: "Day By Day," "You're So Far Above Me," "Charmaine," "Got A Date With an Angel," The Day Isn't Long Enough," "How Do You Like Your Eggs in the Morning," "Someone Like You," "Graduation Day," "There'll Never Be Another You," the title tune, and our personal favorite, "It's a Blue World." The four play their own instruments, or act in little skits, singing "You Stepped Out of a Dream" to a librarian who tries to keep her composure, for instance. It's a corny 1956 variety show, the Four Freshmen are singing with their bright, fresh sound and ringing harmonies, and we've got a front-row seat!"

Songlist: Day By Day, You're So Far Above Me, Love Is Just Around the Corner, You Stepped Out of a Dream, Charmaine, Got a Date with an Angel, Easy Street, After You've Gone, Somebody Loves Me, It's a Blue World, He Who Loves and Runs Away, Crazy Bones, The Day Isn't Long Enough, How Do You Like Your Eggs in the Morning?, Someone Like You, We'll Be Together Again, This Can't Be Love, Graduation Day, Frosty the Snowman, Love Turns Winter to Spring, There'll Never Be Another You

Judy Garland : The Judy Garland Collection

Review: Four fabulous programs in a special collectors set! Includes Judy, Frank & Dean: Once in a Lifetime, Judy Garland Live at the London Palladium with Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland: The Concert Years and Judy Garland, Robert Goulet & Phil Silvers Special. This set contains 4 DVDs!!!

Mabel Mercer : A Singer's Singer

Review: This 17-song set, shot at Cleo's in New York, captures the vocal artistry of Mabel Mercer. Her matchless phrasing gave a new dimension to some of the greatest songs ever written. Frank Sinatra once said, "Mabel Mercer taught me everything I know," and this jazz legend set ablaze stages from Europe to America. This program features one of the last recordings of Mercer, and features songs such as "Blame it on My Youth," "If Love Were All," and "Trouble Comes."

Songlist: That's for Me, Blame It on My Youth, My Love Is a Wanderer, Get Well Soon, If Love Were All, Wait Till You're Sixty-Five, Clouds, Experiment, Being Green, More I Cannot Wish You, Isn't He Adorable, The Times of Your Life, Trouble Comes, Some Fine Day, It Amazes Me, Remind Me, It's All Right With Me

Manhattan Transfer : 35th Anniversary - Great American Songbook

Review: Marking the 35th Anniversary of this truly American vocal group, The Manhattan Transfer Great American Songbook DVD captures the legendary group in the studio as they sing classic, American standards incuding their first ever release of "Someone to Watch Over Me". These exclusive, intimate performances feature the group's trademark vocal harmonies with piano accompaniment. The songs were recorded at the legendary Henson Studios in Los Angeles during the group's 35th anniversary celebration. From bop and pop to swing, from vocalese and boogie-woogie to jazz, over the years The Manhattan Transfer has embraced varied musical styles, creating a style that's all their own and gathering legions of dedicated fans. Also includes new interviews with the group.

Songlist: Route 66, Embreacable You, On The Sunny Side of the Street, Someone to Watch Over Me, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Manhattan Transfer : Christmas Concert

Review: What's better than hearing Manhattan Transfer sing our favorite holiday tunes? Seeing them sing those holiday tunes,LIVE! Thanks to the awesome sound and picture quality of this DVD, you can watch the internationally acclaimed quartet spread Christmas cheer in your very own living room. It's like having your very own personal concert. All 11 tracks from their earlier CD release, 'The Christmas Album' are presented as well as four solo songs (one for each member of the group). Also included, in the bonus features, is an rare interview with the group, sharing their individual backgrounds, their secret to success, and insight on how they learn their music as a group. This DVD is sure to become a Holiday Treasure and is not to be missed! In Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

Songlist: Happy Holiday, Let it Snow, Christmas Love Song, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, White Christmas, Sleigh Ride, It Came Across A Midnight Clear, Caroling, Caroling, Good King Wencesslas, Christmas Is Coming, Snow Fall, Merry Christmas Baby, Santa Baby, The Christmas Song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Operator, Happy Holiday (Reprise), Goodnight

Nancy Wilson : Great Women Singers of the 20th Century

Review: Nancy Wilson, a beautiful woman who is also an actress of note, has been seen in performance many times. However, this 1993 evening of singing at the famed Blues Alley in Washington D.C. was originally intended for A&E's "Biography" but was never released. It is a definitive evening of Nancy's, during which she performs many of her well known songs including her Grammy Award winning "How Glad I Am, "I Have Never Been To Me," and the classic "Guess Who I Saw Today?" This concert presents Nancy Wilson at her memorable best. Nancy has never allowed herself to be classified as just a jazz singer. She has worked hard to offer her audience a wide spectrum of songs that include both jazz and the best of American popular music. She has successfully recorded over 40 albums and CDs for both the Capitol and Columbia labels. In 1991 she recorded a very successful CD "With My Lover Beside Me" with Barry Manilow, who wrote music to unpublished lyrics of Johnny Mercer, for her to record, exclusively. 

Songlist: Lover, More Love, Sweet Pumpkin, I Can't Make You Love Me, Too Close for Comfort, Guess Who I Saw Today?, And When October Goes, You're Just Too Good to Be True, Please Save Your Love for Me, How Glad I Am, When Did You Leave Heaven?, I Have Never Been to Me, Face It Girl, It's Over, The Masquerade Is Over, You Can Have Him, Tonight I Gave the Greatest Performance of My Life

Nancy Wilson : Nancy Wilson At Carnegie Hall

Review: With a unique vocal style that blends elements of R&B, jazz, pop, blues, soul, cabaret, and gospel, Nancy Wilson simply prefers to be called a "song stylist." We're proud to present this great vocal communicator in a memorable concert with full string orchestra, direct from Carnegie Hall, a highlight of New York's 1987 JVC Jazz Festival.

Songlist: Dearly Beloved, Folks Who Live on the Hill, How Glad I Am, A Song for You, The Way It Goes, and more

Nina Simone : Live in '65 & '68

Review: Jazz Icons DVDs feature full-length concerts and in-studio performances by the greatest legends of jazz, filmed all over the world from the 1950s through the 1970s. Beautifully transferred from the original masters, each DVD features rare performances that have never been officially released on home video and, in many cases, were never broadcast. Each DVD includes a booklet with liner notes, rare photos and a memorabilia collage. Produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates.Two incredible concerts from 1965 and 1968 are shared on this DVD, showcasing the multi-faceted Nina Simone in all her glory. She shines as a jazz vocalist extraordinaire on "Tomorrow Is My Turn," as a definitive folk interpreter on Bob Dylan's "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" and as a passionate civil rights activist on both the epic "Four Women" and the scorching "Mississippi Goddam." Nina displays all of the qualities that made her both a supremely gifted jazz singer and pianist as well as the "High Pristess of Soul" on this DVD. 64 minutes.

Songlist: Brown Baby, Four Women, The Ballad of Hollis Brown, Tomorrow Is My Turn/Images, Go Limp, Mississippi Goddam, Go to Hell, Ain't Go No/I Got Life, Backlash Blues, I Put a Spell on You, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Why? (The King of Love Is Dead)

Phil Mattson : Vocal Jazz: The Art & Technique

Review: Phil Mattson, director of the School For Music Vocations, shares his wealth of knowledge and experience on this information-rich video. With the aid of the mixed sextet, VoicesIowa, who perform selections such as "Embraceable You," "Body And Soul" and "Dancing In The Dark," Phil gives an overview of harmony, melody and phrasing. Also, he expounds on the importance of quality literature, and gives the viewer a brief introduction to the chief contributors to the development of the jazz idiom. Phil also dispenses his philosophy throughout, and his integrity and insight into the process of musical performance - a process requiring the body and the soul - shows remarkable wisdom and clarity.

Songlist: The Rehearsal As Sacred Time, Choral Tone, The Architecture of Performance, Quality Literature, Time/Rhythm, Vocal Technique, Complete Performances, Melody/Harmony Balance, Building Group Musicianship, Text/Word Stress, Phrasing, Harmonic Skill-Building Exercises

Phil Mattson and VoicesIowa : Count Your Blessings

Review: Formed at Southwestern Community College's School for Music Vocations in 1991, the mixed-voice sextet VoicesIowa was recently honored by Down Beat Magazine as "Vocal Jazz Group of the Year." Their repertoire also includes Renaissance part-songs, 19th and 20th century compositions and arrangements of contemporary music. Their Director Phil Mattson has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards. These 12 songs, recorded live at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN, feature Mattson-arranged winners like "Snow Covers the Valley," Bach's "Jesu, Meine Freude," Burt Bacharach's "Alfie," "Never Let Me Go," Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen's classic "Blues in the Night" and Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep." Ward Swingle's "Country Dances" and the Swingle-arranged "Satchmo," Duke Ellington's "Don't Mean A Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," Anders Edenroth of the Real Group's "Friendship" and Bobby McFerrin's "Jubilee" are other favorites. Great stuff, from the first cut to the last!

Songlist: Since All Is Passing, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Snow Covers the Valley, Jesu, Meine Freude, Alfie, Jubilee, Never Let Me Go, Satchmo, Friendship, Blues in the Night, Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep), Country Dances

Rosemary Clooney : Girl Singer - Songs from the Classic Television Series

Review: Rosemary Clooney's career began in 1945, singing duets with her sister Betty for WLW Radio in Cincinnati. In 1947, they joined the Pastor band as "The Clooney Sisters," making their debut at The Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Two years later, Rosemary signed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records. Clooney recorded her first single, "Come On-a My House," in 1951. It was an immediate and enormous success and catapulted Rosemary to stardom. Her horizons soon expanded to include motion pictures, including the classic "White Christmas" in 1954. In 1956-1957 "The Rosemary Clooney Show" joined CBS television's weekly variety show lineup. Clooney also gave birth to five children, Miguel, Maria, Gabriel, Monsita, and Rafael, between February 1955 and March 1960. This program includes a compilation of 19 musical performances by Rosemary from her 1950's television program, The Rosemary Clooney Show including My Blue Heaven and Mambo Italiano.

Songlist: Tenderly, Botch-A-Me, Mambo Italiano, Moonlight In Vermont, My Blue Heaven, How About You, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, There Will Never Be Another You, Lullaby Of Broadway, I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me, A Foggy Day (In London Town), You Make Me Feel So Young, Chicago, That Toddlin' Town, Dream, Just You, Just Me, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good), Too Marvelous For Words, This Ole House, They Can't Take That Away From Me, Taking A Chance On Love, Blues In The Night, Come On / A My House, Hey There, Up A Lazy River, I'll Be Seeing You, Haven't Got A Worry

Russell Robinson : Jazz Style and Improvisation for Choirs

Review: 'Jazz Style and Improvisation for Choirs' is an exceptional DVD designed to assist your students in achieving a comfort level witht he performance of jazz stlye and improvisation techniques within your choral program. Your students will learn and sing along with other students and on their own using this interactive DVD. Subjects and tecniques covered include: Chords Within the Blues Stle, Use of Scat Syllables, Improvising on Three Notes, Traing Fours - Listening and Learning, Putting It All Together, and Ballad Style.

Songlist: Introduction, Chords in the Blues, Adding Jazz/Scat Syllables, Part 1, Adding Jazz/Scat Syllables, Part 2, Using Three Notes to Improvise, Call and Response, Trading Fours, Part 1, Trading Fours, Part 2, Putting It All Together (Let's Sing Some Jazz!), Jazzin' it Up! (and Jazzin' it Down!), Days of Wine and Roses, Conclusion

Sarah Vaughan : Great Women Singers of the 20th Century

Review: This 1985 concert by jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughn features such jazz songs as Poor Butterfly and East of the Sun. In this rare live performance she is appearing comfortable, humorous and singing beautifully several of her classic songs including Misty and Send in the The Clowns.

Songlist: Intro - Scat Vocal, Just Friends, Poor Butterfly, On a Clear Day, Just to Say Goodbye, But Not for Me/Our Love Is Here to Stay, Embraceable You/Someone to Watch Over Me, East of the Sun, Here's That Rainy Day, There Will Never Be Another You, Misty, Send In The Clowns, Credits/Riff/Scat Vocal

Sarah Vaughan : Live in "58 & '64

Review: Jazz Icons: Sarah Vaughan features the "Divine One" in her prime, wrapping her sultry voice around jazz standards such as "Lover Man," "Misty" and "I Got Rhythm" and soaring on popular showtunes such as "Over the Rainbow" and "Maria." One of the greatest voices of the 20th Century, her renditions of songs by Harold Arlen, Leonard Bernstein, Johnny Burke, the Gershwins and Stephen Sondheim are pure diva magic. These three performances demonstrate why Sarah Vaughan is invariably mentioned in the same breath as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Includes: 24-page booklet; liner notes by Patricia Willard; foreword by Sarah's daughter Paris Vaughan Courtnall; cover photo by William "PoPsie" Randolph; booklet photos by Duncan Schiedt, Lee Tanner, Paul Hoeffler, Riccardo Schwamenthal, Ray Avery, Susanne Schapowalow; memorabilia collage; and more. 64 minutes.

Songlist: Sometimes I'm Happy, Lover Man, September in the Rain, Mean to Me, Tenderly, If This Isn't Love, Over the Rainbow, They All Laughed, Cherokee, Sometimes I'm Happy, I Feel Pretty, The More I See You, Bauble, Bangles and Beads, I Got Rhythm, Misty, Honeysuckle Rose, Maria, Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home