Benny Goodman

In 1955, on his report, a medical examiner wrote in the box: age, “about 53 years”. Charlie Parker nicknamed Bird just died, at 34. His death will be the ransom of a life that was not denied to the excesses or the consuming flame of genius. His wildest improvisations will open the door to future jazzmen. Between shadow and light this film will pay tribute to one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.

The jazz clarinetist and bandleader dubbed the King of Swing performs his final concert in 1980 at an unassuming club in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.

A compilation of archived live recordings featuring performances by Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Tony Bennett. The material originates from various dates and locations, collected into a single release in 2001.

One of the greatest comedians of early television, Sid Caesar hasn't had his work shown in perennial reruns, so it's especially gratifying to see a collection of his classic sketches released on video, with Caesar himself introducing the material. Besides being a truly gifted comic, Caesar benefited from having some brilliant supporting players, including Carl Reiner, Imogene Coca, and Nanette Fabray. Some of his illustrious writers, including Neil Simon, Woody Allen, and Mel Brooks, appear in interviews setting up the sketches. The sketches themselves include some all-time classics such as Caesar and company playing the figurines populating a medieval town clock (a brilliant bit partly written by Neil Simon and his brother, Danny, who reminisce after the sketch).

The DVD Louis Armstrong & Benny Goodman – Sounds in Motion (2000) is a compilation of vintage performances by two of jazz's most iconic figures. This 89-minute collection offers a curated selection of live recordings, showcasing Armstrong's charismatic trumpet and vocals alongside Goodman's masterful clarinet and big band arrangements. The footage, presented in PAL format with a 16:9 aspect ratio, is region-free, making it accessible to audiences worldwide. While specific recording dates and venues are not detailed, the compilation provides a nostalgic glimpse into the golden era of jazz. This DVD is a valuable addition for jazz enthusiasts and collectors seeking to experience the dynamic performances of these legendary artists.

This biography of musical legend Benny Goodman contains testimonials from various contemporaries and scholars, and offers several clips of the man in performance. Nearly two-dozen songs can be heard including "California, Here I Come," "A Fine Romance," "Why Don't You Do Right," "I've Got a Heart Full of Music," and "Bugle Cal Rag."

Hasselgård died in a car accident 75 years ago, aged just 26, he became a legend like so many other young dead in jazz history. The clarinetist Åke Stan Hasselgård managed to play with many of the greats both in Sweden and in the USA.

Mitzi Gaynor and her guests Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat), John McCook (The Young and the Restless), and musician Benny Goodman explore trends of the 1970's ranging from Jazz and Disco to Soap Operas and King Tut-mania. Songs include "Satin Doll," "I'm Hip" (with Goodman), "Nice Work if You Can Get it," and "Can't Smile Without You."

This concert film made in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles in 1976 captures a memorable performance conducted by the doyen of American composers, Aaron Copland. It includes some of his greatest and most attractive music, from the patriotic flourish of Fanfare for the Common Man and the spirited orchestral fantasy El Salón México, to the colloquial warmth of his suite from the opera The Tender Land. Of particular importance is the collaboration with the great Benny Goodman in the masterwork he commissioned and premiered, the Clarinet Concerto.

Period music, film clips and newsreel footage combined into a visual exploration of the American entertainment industry during the Great Depression.