Music & Performance

Jon Chardiet plays a Puerto Rican youth who targets subway walls for his graffiti renderings. For a while, it looks as though Chardiet's problems will carry the plotline, but before long the film's true raison d'etre comes to the surface. Rap-music deejay Guy Davis, in tandem with such like-minded individuals as music student Rae Dawn Chong, endeavor to stage a huge breakdancing presentation, featuring several musical artistes of the period. Harry Belafonte served as coproducer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bobby McFerrin brings his unique touch to old favorites in this 1986 performance from Hollywood. Some of the featured numbers are "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Honeysuckle Rose." ~ All Movie Guide

Breakdancing, hip-hop, rap, and a good time are the main stars of this standard teen movie about youths trying to raise money to save their community club from being razed for a shopping mall. Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers) are two master breakdancers who have started a community club to teach other teens how to manage the acrobatics of the dance without literally breaking anything. Their efforts create some choreographed, group breakdancing that is rather innovative. But an evil developer (Peter MacLean) sees their property as ideal for a shopping mall project -- and a crooked politician is willing to back him up for a fee. As the teens do their best to raise money to keep their center, some are also battling with restrictive parents or trying to ease into romantic liaisons that offer their own challenges. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

View Video presents the late jazz sax player Grover Washington Jr. in a 1981 live stage performance. Grover Washington Jr. in Concert features the legendary musician joined by Richard Tee on keyboards, Eric Gale on guitar, and Steve Gadd on percussion. The songs include "Just the Two of Us," "Winelight," "Let It Flow (For Dr. J.)," "Come Morning," "Make Me a Memory (Sad Samba)," and "Mister Magic." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

This 1967 theatrical release comes to video via Warner Home Video. Live concert footage, rare studio glimpses, and interviews round out the contents of this collection. "Wild Thing," "Purple Haze," and "Hear My Train a Comin'" (acoustic version) were all recorded live on stage with the quality of sound and video that suggest they could be bootleg material. A break from live footage appears in "Foxy Lady," one of Hendrix's best-known hits, which is filmed more like a music video -- on location and in 8 mm. The program includes brief one-on-one interviews with Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell. Some of the material, such as "Hear My Train a Comin'," has appeared on other video releases. ~ Karen Solomon, All Movie Guide

As part of his promotional campaign for the album Dangerous, Michael Jackson helped create a series of elaborate and lavishly produced music videos for songs from the set, and this video brings together the nine short films created to accompany songs from the disc. Videos featured include: "Black and White," the little-seen full-length version; "Remember the Time," featuring Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson; "In the Closet," with Naomi Campbell; "Jam," including appearances by Michael Jordan, Heavy D., and Kris Kross; "Will You Be There"; "Heal the World"; "Give in to Me"; "Who Is It"; and "Gone Too Soon." Michael Jackson: Dangerous -- The Short Films also features behind-the-scenes footage on the production of several of the videos, as well as additional live performances of Jackson appearing at the 1994 Super Bowl and on the Dangerous concert tour. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The world's longest running jazz celebration, The Monterey Jazz Festival has played host to some of the finest and best loved musicians in the history of the music, including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck and Buddy Rich. This documentary video features rare concert footage of many of the greatest names in jazz, as well as vintage photographs and personal interviews with performers and behind-the-scenes figures who helped make Monterey a mecca for jazz players and fans. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The Newport Jazz Festival was host to great artists such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Joe Williams, Peewee Russell and many others. ~ All Movie Guide

Before he became The Artist Whose Name Is Represented By An Unpronounceable Symbol, Prince was one of the most exciting hitmakers in pop and R&B, and this video collection features clips to fifteen of his biggest hits, including "1999," "Raspberry Beret," "Sign 'O' The Times," "Alphabet Street," "Kiss," "Little Red Corvette" and "Diamonds and Pearls." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Originally produced in 1993, this DVD features R&B artist Sade in each stage of her career. Among the 14 music videos including in this compilation are "Your Love Is King," "Smooth Operator," "Hang On to Your Love," "Nothing Can Come Between Us," "Love is Stronger Than Pride," and "Paradise." ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

This video collects twenty music videos from one of the undisputed queens of rock and roll, Tina Turner. Included are promotional clips for hits like "The Best", "We Don't Need Another Hero", "Foreign Affair", "It Takes Two", and "Private Dancer. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This program presents a live performance by jazz artist Abdulah Ibraham. The pianist performs in a concert with his group, Ekaya, a band comprised of saxophones, brass, and a rhythm section. The elegant Ibraham intersperses his numbers with stories about himself and the music. The music ranges from classic to straight-ahead jazz, all performed with perfect timing. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Berkeley Memorial Day Concert. This critically acclaimed performance is considered to be one of the best of the legendary guitar player's career. The show was taped on May 30, 1970, at the Berkeley Community Center during the Cry of Love tour. The 55-minute release features Billy Cox on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The band performs a number of Hendrix classics, including "Johnny B. Good," "Hear My Train a Comin'," "Purple Haze," "I Don't Live Today," "Hey Baby (New Rising Son)," "Lover Man," and, of course, Jimi's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner." ~ Dennis Proctor, All Movie Guide