| Live Performance |
Doc Watson is widely regarded as today's finest flatpicking guitarist. He is a living treasury of Americana. In this Ramblin' concert recorded in 1980, Doc is joined by his son Merle on guitar and banjo and by Michael Coleman on bass. Their performance is a showcase of native folk traditions and a display of distinctive stylistic inventions. Visits with Doc and Merle at home in Deep Gap, North Carolina, and in concert in Rock Hill, South Carolina, are also included.
The rare footage presented in this video is a treasure beyond imagining, drawn from a myriad of sources, depicting some of the greatest blues musicians who ever lived. Features Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Mance Lipscomb, Rev. Gary Davis, Robert Peter Williams, Josh White, and Brownie McGhee. Includes free booklet of biographical material.
Presents rare and historical recordings from 1965 to 1970 of some of the greatest exponents for this blues technique. Features Son House, Johnny Shines, Fred McDowell, Jesse Fuller, Furry Lewis, and Mance Lipscomb. Includes free booklet of Biographical material.
This video captures 35 years of rare film and television performances by one of the all time great American musicians. The music and guitar playing Merle Travis have been a seminal influence on the American music scene. There is not a fingerstyle guitarist whose playing has not been touched by Merle's style and technique. He wrote over 900 songs, and some such as "Sixteen Tons" and "Dark as a Dungeon" are so familiar that today they are thought of as "folk songs." Includes free instructional booklet featuring an interview, biographical essay, and many rare photographs.
Since first meeting in this 1920s, neither jazz nor the guitar have ever been the same. This swinging celebration of that union presents four legends of jazz guitar: Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis. "Of all the ways to improvise," says Barney Kessel, "the most stimulating and demanding is jazz." The four artists here demonstrate stunning command of the fingerboard alongside inspired explorations of standards, blues and ballads. Explosive cascades of notes as well as lanquid pools of music pour from these maestros' imaginations and fingers.
Virtuosity tempered by taste and informed by imagination--it's a constant force in this collection of brilliant jazz guitar performances. "The thing is to make music," Kenny Burrell once observed," no matter what the tempo. That, to me, is the most demanding part of anything. It's not the physical or the technical part. It's just the idea of making it musical." The high-wire act of balancing virtuosity and musicality meets it match in the remarkable artists seen in the second volume of Legends of Jazz Guitar, featuring Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Grant Green.
The guitar's odyssey in jazz is presented afresh in Vestapol's third compilation of prime performances from six of the idiom's movers and shakers. They appear in nine varied performances captured between 1964 and 1987. A feast for guitar gluttons, these stunning snapshots of imagination and energy in flight will dazzle jazz lovers of every bent. Features Jim Hall, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, Pat Martino, Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd.
This collection of rarely seen video performances illustrates the power and range of Doc's talents and the evolution of his performance style. His music ranges from flatpicking guitar instrumentals, a harmonica solo, a capella gospel singing, frailing banjo to fingerstyle guitar and warm vocals. The tapestry of sounds Doc wove during his first two decades performing outside North Carolina unfolds in these enduringly and inspiring performances.
This video features performances of Doc Watson ranging from his 1950's musical partner, pianist jack Williams, to his son Merle (seen playing exquisite slide guitar), to Ricky Skaggs (singing and playing Mandolin in a Monroe Brothers style set), to a stellar stringband featuring Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, David Grisman and Jerry Douglas. This collection ends with a solo set from Doc which brings his music full circle to the straightforward simplicity with which it was first presented during the 1960's folk revival.
This video captures almost 30 years of rare performances from 1962 to 1991. Barney is seen playing in a trio setting, solo and with his friends, jazz guitarists Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd. All the performances capture the unique artistry of this great American musician.
This video features hot picking performances by Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, and more.
This video features guitarists John Renbourn, Stefan Grossman, Martin Carthy, Bob Brozman, Martin Simpson, Peppino D'Agostino, Brad Jones and Joe Miller. Includes free booklet.
Features Merle Travis, Doc & Merle Watson, Elizabeth Cotten, Roscoe Holcomb, Josh White, Sam & Kirk McGee, Mance Lipscomb, and Rev. Gary Davis. Includes free booklet of biographical material.
This video presents Joe Pass in a 1991 solo concert at Christ College, Brecon, Wales playing what he called "songs from our American Heritage." The half-dozen performances are breathtaking examples of Pass's improvisatory gift for extensively exploring and enhancing several kinds of music. The artistry of fingerstyle guitar appears at one of its creative pinnacles in the hands of a disarmingly modest genius who said: "I'm just a guitar player who happens to play music influenced by jazz."
Lightnin' Hopkins Rare Performances 1960-1979
58-Minute Video
(95325VX) $24.95
In 1960 German filmmaker Dietrich Wawzyn captured Lightnin' on his Houston home turf, and the clips here of him performing on the street and in a Houston bar are rare glimpses into his milieu (and the earliest known footage of Hopkins). Seven years later a relaxed Lightnin' delivered performances for Seattle folklorists, five of which appear here. In 1970 he painted an entertaining musical self-portrait in eight songs from the Los Angeles PBS show Boboquivari. Finally, Lightnin's appearance on Austin City Limits in 1979 shows a still-powerful country bluesman disproving the old dog/new tricks adage with a Stratocaster and wah-wah pedal!
Go to: