Benny Goodman - Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing

If you love the swing era, this DVD is for you. Not only do you have Benny Goodman, but the stars who played with him are what made swing the great period that it was. Gene Kruppa stands out in particular. As this was taken from old movies, the picture quality may not be what one might hope, but I bought the record to listen to the music and I was not disappointed.

I watched this DVD three times in as many nights when I rented it from Netflix. The music clips were better than those I've seen in other videos. I did not mind that there were few complete music pieces, have seen them elsewhere. Two things fascinated me about this one: the commentaries from his daughters, sister, brothers, and sidemen, though some comments offered as fact conflicted with those heard/read elsewhere, so I don't know what's really true. The second thing, and why I am buying this DVD after watching it three times, is the closeups of BG's fingering, much closer than in other videos. I am learning the clarinet, and my teacher keeps trying to keep my fingers as close to the instrument as possible and has mentioned that in certain cases a particular hand does not have to leave the instrument at all. Actually seeing that approach in motion hammered that home. It seemed that very few of Benny's fingers left the clarinet at times, even in up-tempo numbers. Seeing the undisputed master doing it is a great inspiration. And, yes, I know about his personality, warts and all, but as Jess Stacy says in the video, when you hear him, all is forgiven.

This DVD production is about the life and times of musical great Benny Goodman. It is not a presentation of complete performances. It would have been nice to have had at least several complete performances from beginning to end , perhaps as bonus tracks. However, the clips that were briefly presented were fabulous. Other reviewers have stated in more detail the specifics of this DVD especially all of the collaborations of the other great musical talents of the time. This is a must have DVD for Benny Goodman fans. I will only give this 4 stars because of the annoying way the clips were edited.

Benny has only one thing in his mind since the age of nine: "Clarinet".
This documentary reveals in an excelent manner in only one hour what minds Clarinet and swing music in the hands and body of this virtuose man called Benny Goodman.
You can find a lot of his music and interpretations and take in mind the next two things: if you know Benny you must see the movie; but if you don't know Benny, plese see the documentary and enjoy his magnificient playing from his young years during all his career.

I FOUND THIS DVD VERY INTERESTING. YOU'LL BE DISSAPPOINTED IF YOU'RE EXPECTING A CONCERT. ANYWAY THIS DVD COVERS BENNY'S RISE TO THE TOP. INTERVIEWS WITH FORMER BAND MEMBERS AND FAMILY, PLUS BENNY HIMSELF, MAKE THIS GOOD. WHAT A FANTATIC MUSICIAN. HE ALWAYS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH A GREAT BAND, SOME OF WHOM BECAME STARS THEMSELVES. THERE ARE LOTS OF EXAMPLES OF BENNY PLAYING IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. ONE OF THE BEST IS BENNY PLAYING "AVALON" WITH LIONEL HAMPTON, GENE KRUPA AND TEDDY WILSON. THIS ALONE IS WORTH THE COST.