• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Recommend some music DVD's for my class

Killens84

Killens84

Supporting Member
Sep 3, 2008
2,205
5,083
42
Mississippi
#1
I'm a high school band director, as well as a regular gigging bass player. I teach two general music classes at school, and I often like to show live concert DVD's to expose the students to some great musicians. It's also a good opportunity to expose the students to music other than what's on top of the pop charts right now.

I own several concerts on DVD, and have shown several in my classes (Tower of Power, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, and even Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top, just to name a few). I'd like to purchase some more concert DVD's to show, and was hoping you guys could recommend some good ones. They would need to be appropriate to show in a classroom. Any suggestions?
 
#5
waynobass said:
Can't they watch TV at home? Why waste valuable class time?
Click to expand...

Wow... Questioning my teaching methods and integrity when you don't know anything about my class or what I do. Your response also in no way helped in what I was inquiring about.

But since you've so graciously given your uninformed opinion, I'll respond... I teach in a VERY rural area. There are very few opportunities for people in the area to see good live music, especially when you're not old enough to get into the places that do have live music. Also, it's not like you can just turn on the TV and find a live concert anytime. And when there is one on TV, it's most likely not an artist or type of music I want to show in my class.

I use those live concert DVD's as teaching tools, and it happens to be very effective. I'm able to teach about so many aspects of music performance, music history, and musical styles through those videos. On top of that, my students enjoy it, and it keeps them engaged in the class. And I only show one every two or three weeks.

So thank you for your unwelcomed and uninformed response.
 
#6
Queen: Rock Montreal (it's easy to forget just how good a band they were-the bass is a bit low in the mix, though, sadly)
King Curtis with Jemmott and Purdie (I know a dvd is out there but not the name)
Young People's Concerts (pricy but worth thinking about)
Paul Simon: The African Concert
Concert for Bangladesh
Gentle Giant: Sight and Sound (one of the all time great bands, though they tamed themselves a bit for the camera)

Plenty of great stuff out there. There's a great series called Jazz Icons that you can't go wrong with.
 
#7
Return to Forever Live at Montreux
Weather Report Live at Montreux
Stanley Clarke's Night School Concert
Chops, a great documentary about High School Musicians preparing for the Lincoln Center Duke Ellington Competition for High School Jazz Bands. Really inspiring.
Amazon.com: Chops: Winton Marsalis, Jazz At Lincoln Center, Bruce Broder: Movies & TV
Yes, they can watch TV at home, but the only Music they may be getting is Lil Bow Wow and they only TV they may be watching is Teen Moms or Jersey Shore. Exposing a student to a different Musical Experience can be life changing.
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#9
transition11 said:
The Mike Stern Band's DVD New Morning, Paris is great IMO. It's a good example of some of the best contemporary jazz playing out there, with pretty heavy doses of rock and soul. Tom Kennedy's bass playing is awesome as well.

Mike Stern Band - New Morning - Paris - 16.05.2008 - YouTube
Click to expand...

That's great! There's another one with Richard Bona that's excellent.
How could I forget this one?
Amazon.com: Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Joe Hunter, Jack Ashford, Uriel Jones, Richard 'Pistol' Allen, Bob Babbitt, Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin, Eddie 'Bongo' Brown, Bootsy Collins, Johnny Griffith, Ben Harper, James Jam
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#10
Yes, they can watch TV at home, but the only Music they may be getting is Lil Bow Wow and they only TV they may be watching is Teen Moms or Jersey Shore. Exposing a student to a different Musical Experience can be life changing.
Click to expand...


Roy is exactly right here. My kids and their friends watch CSI and What Not to Wear, amongst other junk.

I'll second Colcifer's vote for the Jazz Icons series. There's one with Johnny Griffin and another with a young Wynton Marsalis that are smoking. You could just play one or two tunes from each for the class and show them that jazz guys can really rock out.

Also there is a DVD of Renaud Garcia Fons that is almost unbelievably good - to show them what a bass is truly capable of.

And then Esparanza would be great for the class too, no need to elaborate why.

I have these titles at home but can't remember the details. I'll post more tonight when I get home and can provide their full titles and links.
 
#11
You guys have named a lot of great stuff. I'm definitely going to look into a lot of these. I'm also interested in getting some more of classic rock bands' DVD's as well... Artists who helped shape popular music in the 60's, 70's, and 80's.

I have Victor Wooten's Live at Bass Day '98, and the students always love that one, as well as John Mayer's Where The Light Is DVD. The Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's is a great one I show as well.
 
#13
Super Show (1969)

Amazon.com: Supershow: Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills: Movies & TV

Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Buddy Miles, Roland Kirk, Stephen Stills, Modern Jazz Quartet.

This is a great DVD from all perspectives. Some of the sound is a little sketchy, but when you consider it was recorded in a factory, you let it slide. This is also what it is like to jam together greats from all aspects of the then popular movements...Rock, Blues, Jam, Jazz, Fusion.

Here's the track listing:

Track Listing:
1. Those Who Are About To Die, We Salute You: JON HISEMAN'S COLOSSEUM
2. Love Potion: BUDDY MILES, STEPHEN STILLS, JACK BRUCE, DALLAS TAYLOR, DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH, CHRIS MERCER
3. Under The Jasmine Tree: MODERN JAZZ QUARTET
4. Mary Had A Little Lamb: BUDDY GUY, JACK BRUCE, BUDDY MILES, DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH, CHRIS MERCER
5. Primitive Ohio: ROLAND KIRK QUARTET
6. Checking On My Baby / Texas Blues: BUDDY MILES, GLENN CAMPBELL, BUDDY GUY, STEVE HEARD, CHRIS MERCER
7. Visitor From Venus: MODERN JAZZ QUARTET
8. Bad Hat: GLENN CAMPBELL WITH THE MISUNDERSTOOD
9. Hoochie Coochie Man: BUDDY GUY
10. Debut: JON HISEMAN'S COLOSSEUM
11. Stormy Monday / Kansas City: BUDDY GUY, ROLAND KIRK, JACK BRUCE, JIMMY HOPE, RON BURTON
12. I Say A Little Prayer: ROLAND KIRK QUARTET
13. My Time After A While: BUDDY GUY, JACK BRUCE, BUDDY MILES
14. Black Queen: STEVE STILLS, BUDDY MILES, JACK BRUCE, DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH, CHRIS MERCER
15. Slate 27: ERIC CLAPTON, ROLAND KIRK, DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH, JACK BRUCE, JON HISEMAN, RON BURTON, VERNON MARTIN
16. End Jam: ERIC CLAPTON, BUDDY GUY, STEVE STILLS, DUSTER BENNETT plus others...
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#17
Dave Matthews Band: Listener Supported

I'm a DMB fanboy, and I really like Leroi's work on this one. As a young clarinet player, he really opened my eyes to what was possible with the woodwinds. And lets face it - winds get no love when there are trumpets to be heard in a high school band. It also has a good cover version of "Long Black Veil."
 
#18
colcifer said:
Queen: Rock Montreal (it's easy to forget just how good a band they were-the bass is a bit low in the mix, though, sadly)
King Curtis with Jemmott and Purdie (I know a dvd is out there but not the name)
Young People's Concerts (pricy but worth thinking about)
Paul Simon: The African Concert
Concert for Bangladesh
Gentle Giant: Sight and Sound (one of the all time great bands, though they tamed themselves a bit for the camera)

Plenty of great stuff out there. There's a great series called Jazz Icons that you can't go wrong with.
Click to expand...

+1 for Paul Simon's African Graceland Concert. It would be a delight for the kids.
 
#20
Here's an idea: Get the Yes "Songs from Tsongas" DVD, and another concert DVD of theirs like the Montreux one or something. In Songs from Tsongas they have a middle section where they do acoustic versions of some of their songs, like Roundabout. Play a "standard" electric performance of Roundabout and then the acoustic version, and discuss what they changed and how it affected the feel of the song.

Also, there's Rush, just for Rush awesomeness - I went ahead and bought the Time Machine DVD. Good both for display of sheer chops, plus if you want to talk about the use of sequencers and automation in creating live performances (Aimee Mann's voice comes out of nowhere singing backup on "Time Stands Still," though she's nowhere in the building...).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back