Music highlights from PBS TV Series with Ramsey Lewis
Performers: Chris Botti, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, George Duke, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Al Jarreau, Jane Monheit, John Pizzarelli, Lee Ritenour, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Dave Valentin, Phil Woods, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Keb’ Mo’, Ivan Lins
Studio: LRS Media DVD 090005
Video: 16:9 widescreen, 1080i HD color
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, DD 5.1, PCM Stereo
Extras: Photo gallery, Artist bios, Trailers
Length: 55:00
Rating: *****
This is the “sampler” for the critically-acclaimed PBS series which aired back in 2006 on most public TV stations around the U.S. We reviewed the standard DVD release back then, but in our DualDisc section because it came with a separate CD of just the music. Now those of us equipped for Blu-ray playback can luxuriate in both the enhanced images and surround sound of this exciting collection of some of the top names in jazz today.
Individual DVDs have been available of the entire 13-program series, but no decision has been made to release those in Blu-ray versions. I can understand that, because these one-hour shows consisted more than half in Ramsey Lewis talking to the performers, and the 13 musical selections on this Blu-ray are taken from the very best music performances on each program. The talk portions wouldn’t benefit that much from the improved picture resolution and better audio and are less likely to stimulate repeated viewings anyway. One of the exciting points about the series is the thoughtful pairing up of incredible musicians who you would never see playing together except perhaps at a jazz festival – such as the two-piano number with Brubeck and Billy Taylor.
I see in my original review I observed that “both image and sound are beyond reproach.” Well, let me reproach them just a bit after all, because the Blu-ray version is a knockout visually (even if it is just 1080i instead of 1080p), and if you can play back the lossless Dolby TrueHD surround codec you will definitely experience more realistic and involving audio reproduction. The two together – plus the great set design and skilled camera work – make you feel like you’re right in the studio with the performers and Ramsey Lewis. The guitar-based groups have a greater impact and get down into more subterranean regions, and the drum sets sound cleaner and crisper. The photo gallery of stills from the series is also fun to run thru. The only con here is the absence of the separate audio CD. Here’s the entire program of performances:
1. AL JARREAU & KURT ELLING “Take 5”
2. CHRIS BOTTI “My Funny Valentine”
3. MARCUS MILLER, GEORGE DUKE, LEE RITENOUR “The Panther”
4. DAVID SANBORN & PHIL WOODS “Senor Blues”
5. CHICK COREA “Armando’s Rhumba”
6. ROBERT CRAY & KEB MO “12 Year Old Boy”
7. BENNY GOLSON “Killer Joe”
8. IVAN LINS “The Island”
9. CLARK TERRY “Mumbles”
10. JANE MONHEIT & JOHN PIZZARELLI “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”
11. DAVE VALENTIN “Obsession”
12. DAVE BRUBECK & BILLY TAYLOR “Take The ‘A’ Train”
13. RAMSEY LEWIS “Dear Lord”
– John Henry
