Hitman Returns was filmed before a sold out crowd last year at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The lineup of talent, lead by Foster as maestro of ceremonies, includes performances by Seal, Donna Summer, Martina McBride, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Ruben Studdard, All-4-One,'Glee' star Charice, Chaka Khan, Jackie Evancho, Lara Fabian and other artists whose careers have been touched by Foster, a 15-time Grammy winning producer and songwriter.
World Jazz-Fusion guitarist Al Di Meola (Land of the Midnight Sun, Elegant Gypsy) teams up with Russian pop rock superstar Leonid Agutin for the performance release Al Di Meola & Leonid Agutin: Cosmopolitan Live. The first half of this 148-minute program serves up a compilation of footage of Agutin and Di Meola culled from such sources as the Yurmala Festival and the Blue Note club in New York, and video clips of the musicians playing such songs as "Half of Your Heart" and "Cuba Maxima." The second half of the release features two concerts shot in Montreux: one of the Al Di Meola Group on three selections, and another of six tunes played by Agutin and Di Meola from their 2005 Cosmopolitan Life record.
MUSICIANS :
DWIKI DHARMAWAN : Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocoder.
JIMMY HASLIP (Yellow Jackets) : Bass.
STEVE THORNTON : Percussions.
ROGER BURNS : Vibraphone, Keyboards.
ANDY SUZUKI : Sax & Flute.
WALFREDO RAYES Jr. : Drums.
This two-time Grammy Award winner and five-time Billboard chart-topper, leads an all-star septet featuring Kirk Whalum, live from the Queen Mary Jazz Festival.
A five-time achiever of the #1 position on the Billboard Jazz Chart, innovative composer and keyboard artist Bob James still dazzles his audience today with the same kind of excitement that Quincy Jones first noted when he spotted James playing at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1962. At the outset of his career, Bob James immediately pushed forward to the parameters of modern jazz with a productive period of electronic musical experimentation. This was followed by a step into the jazz mainstream as he began a four-year stint as musical director for jazz queen Sarah Vaughn. In 1977, James founded Tappan Zee Records, which released the works of such artists as Joanne Brackeen, Richard Tee and Mongo Santamaria. His own recordings in the late 1970's and 1980's garnered him eight Grammy nominations, culminating in two Grammy award winners: "One on One" for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1980 and "Double Vision" for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1986. As part of it's "Jazz Series," VIEW Video is proud to present an exhilarating evening of music, recorded in Hi-Fi at the 1985 Queen Mary Jazz Festival. Featuring a half-dozen of the most masterful musicians in jazz, and the Master himself, this live performance captures the freshness, versatility and excitement that is the music of Bob James.
This DVD/CD documents Cohen's first live outing with trio mates Sam Barsh and mark Guilliana, plus guest soloists Jimmy Greene and Diego Urcola. Also included are artist interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Avishai Cohen, who became well known in the jazz world during his period with Chick Corea, is one of the top bassists in the world. His virtuosity and constant creativity in both a modern mainstream format and on funkier grooves seem effortless. As Is...Live at the Blue Note contains a CD (the first seven selections) and a DVD. "Smash," "Feediop," the ballad "Remembering" and an overlong "Caravan" (the one non-original) are featured in both formats while three songs are different. Cohen takes many solos and is always a prominent force in the ensembles. Pianist-keyboardist Sam Barsh and drummer Mark Guiliana communicate very well with Cohen while trumpeter Diego Urcola and tenor soprano saxophonist Jimmy Greene add plenty of fire during their guest appearances. The camera work is excellent for the DVD so one can equally enjoy hearing and seeing these skilled musicians at their best.
Think About It, from the Bill Hart Project, offers guitar, bass and drums expanding the horizons of instrumental jazz-fusion, with a heavy funk-rock back beat, staying deep in the pocket. Think Mike Stern or Steve Khan. with a twist of Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmore (Pink Floyd). The Stern connection is solidified on Think About It as Mike contributes guitar work to "What Are You Doing?", "This Is Why", "Yes You Can" and "Got Mike?". Currently the head of the Guitar Department at the Atlanta Institute of Music, Hart is an ultra-tasty soloist, turning up the juice when required while demonstrating a mastery of 'playing the rests'. Studying with jazz legends such as Stern, Kahn, Scott Henderson and Wayne Krantz has honed Hart's phrasing, as evidenced on tracks such as "Crop Circles", "Slick" and "Afro Canadian".
Jazz legend Miles Davis is captured performing in Montreal on this video. The man performs a half dozen songs including "One Phone Call", "Human Nature", "Something's on Your Mind", "Time After Time", "Code M.D.", and "Jean Pierre". The DVD release of the concert includes a biographical timeline of the artist's life. One of the true legends of the jazz scene, Miles Davis was not only a virtuoso on the trumpet, but also one of the founders of cool jazz, groove, hard bop, and fusion. Available for the first time completely digitally re-recorded is Davis' live performance in Montreal with rare concert footage. This is a must-have for all jazz lovers.
Recorded live at Sejong Cultural Center, Seoul January 15, 2005
MUSICIANS :
BOB JAMES : Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizers; NATHAN EAST : Bass; HARVEY MASON : Drums; LARRY CARLTON : Guitar.
