Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey

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Product Details

Director : Martin Scorsese, Charles Burnett, Clint Eastwood, Mike Figgis, Marc Levin
Format : Box set, PAL
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0636551503976
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 0
Release Date : 2004-10-18
Running Time : 780minutes
Studio : Snapper Music
UPC : 636551503976

ASIN : B0002Z9XFQ

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

It may have been underrated when first broadcast, 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

Synopsis

Seven features by directors with a passion for Blues music.

Customer Reviews

Bargain Basement (2008-01-28)

With 7 DVDs which run for nearly 6 hours 30 minutes-each one with "extras" totalling 3 hours-this is an undoubted bargain.Especially when you find it at HMV for £20!!

the best documentary i have seen on this great subject (2007-11-22)

the blues is, in my view, about confronting the reality of life. it may be so hard on you that you simply need to acknowledge that it is the reason why you feel bad. others learn to laugh at their troubles through the blues.this documentary is perhaps the finest example of the myriad of styles of this cathartic music. the sheer depth of the documentary and its subject matter will instantly take you from the crossroads of ignorance to the electric realisation that you are a well informed and passioante exponent of this historic and meaningful genre. although i am not american, this documentary makes you realise that there is a sophistication and allure to their culture that in many ways goes undocumented.whether you are a musician like me, or a hobo in the world of music you will learn an enormous amount from this collection. there is unfortunately a major scar on the otherwise flawless face of this documentary. disc 5 - the godfather's dvd is a magical journey of music. the fatal mistake was made by the person who gave mr chess the microphone voiceover. if you can ignore his righteous swagger and self-congratulation, and realise that he is the only fraudulent aspect to this otherwise wonderful section of the documentary, you will love it. he ruins an otherwise wonderful section with prententions and shameless braggadoccio that makes the artists in the documentary squirm. but the music, and the voices of the artists fortunately drown his unbearably loud voice out!i personally recommend discs one and seven as being the most uplifting introduction. ray charles involvement in this documentary is a beautiful celebration of his life. for those of you who love his music, you will learn to love the man even more!! so turn down the lights, take a julep and tune in to the raw sound of the beautiful south, and the way they sing them blues.

lulu (2007-11-14)

i saw some of this on tv, and lulu did what i thought was a stunning version of "i'll drown in my own tears"!i honestly never knew she was that good-wish she'd have done more of that sort of thing in her career.

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