Fiddler Core

SBS - God's Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz (2014)
PDTV | 720x404 | .MP4/AVC @ 857 Kbps | 1h 27mn | Audio: English AAC 109 kbps, 2 channels | Subs: None | 606 MiB
Genre: Documentary

Long before Nigel Kennedy and Lang Lang, Jascha Heifetz was the original classical superstar. Supremely talented, his violin playing has arguably never been surpassed. Peter Rosen's film charts his extraordinary story of successes which span virtually the entire 20th century.

One of the great entries in Duke Ellington's "exotic" albums of the 60s - records that aren't exactly exotica by any stretch of the imagination, but which have musical themes that were inspired by the international travels of the Ellington band at the time! In this case, the locale is the Virgin Islands - where Ellington performed in 1965, and returned home to record this set as a memory of tunes played by the band in St Croix and St Thomas. The core of the set is the initial Virgin Islands suite - made up of four new tunes that include "Island Virgin", "Virgin Jungle", "Fiddler On The Diddle", and "Jungle Kitty" - all nicely rhythmic numbers that explore some fresh themes with especially nice horn solos from the members of the group. Other tracks are older numbers performed on the tour, given a bit of a new twist here.

The Grascals' core — lead vocalist, fiddler, and mandolin player Jamie Johnson, guitarist Terry Eldredge, bass and guitar player Terry Smith, and guitar and mandolin player Danny Roberts — all knew each other as polished sidemen and formed the Grascals to step out front and grab some of the limelight themselves. When Dolly Parton heard the band laying down tracks for their self-titled debut, she hired them to be her backing band. Her vocals on their first single, a bluegrass version of "Viva Las Vegas," helped the song debut at number three on the country charts and earned them an invitation to play the Grand Ol' Opry. The band continues to confound expectations on The Famous Lefty Flynn's by opening the album with a blazing cover of the Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville." The track features tasty solos from the two new Grascals, Kristin Scott Benson, IMBA Banjo Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and fiddler Jeremy Abshire…….

One of the great entries in Duke Ellington's "exotic" albums of the 60s - records that aren't exactly exotica by any stretch of the imagination, but which have musical themes that were inspired by the international travels of the Ellington band at the time! In this case, the locale is the Virgin Islands - where Ellington performed in 1965, and returned home to record this set as a memory of tunes played by the band in St Croix and St Thomas. The core of the set is the initial Virgin Islands suite - made up of four new tunes that include "Island Virgin", "Virgin Jungle", "Fiddler On The Diddle", and "Jungle Kitty" - all nicely rhythmic numbers that explore some fresh themes with especially nice horn solos from the members of the group. Other tracks are older numbers performed on the tour, given a bit of a new twist here.

For the 2014/15 Opening Night Concert and Gala, the Los Angeles Philharmonic paid loving tribute to composer John Williams, one of the most popular and successful American composers of the modern age and long a champion and close friend of the orchestra. Gustavo Dudamel, an awestruck fan of the musical icon, led the orchestra in a cross-section of Maestro Williams' matchless canon. The concert features Itzhak Perlman with a very special musical performance of pieces from Schindler's List as well as the cadenza and variations from Fiddler On The Roof. Jazz elements fill the air during Escapades from Catch Me If You Can, and may the force be with you during the iconic tunes from Star Wars. The Blu-ray bonus features include interviews with the main protagonists, including Gustavo Dudamel, John Williams, and Itzhak Perlman.