About a month ago, I noticed that Netflix was offering free trial memberships (they still are, in fact). I've thought about joining in the past, but never really gave it enough consideration. Partly because I didn't think it was worth the money, and partly because I didn't think they'd have anything that I'd want to see. Boy, was I wrong…

Turns out, Netfilx is great! I've got about 70 movies in my queue, and I've yet to spend any time *really* searching for things. Their turn-around time is great too. I typically receive my movie selections the day after they ship, and they receive my returns just as fast --in case you don't know, they let you check out three movies at a time. Once you return a movie, they send the next on in your queue.

Of course, the reason for this post is to tell you about their collection of jazz videos. A search for "jazz" returns about 60 or so videos (the same search returns 177 as of 11/19/05!). It looks like they have quite a few more than that, though, as a search for "Miles Davis" returns 4 videos not included in the "jazz" search. I imagine other name-based searches will produce more results.

SO FAR, I'VE SEEN

Jazz Casual: Basie, Gillespie, Coltrane, 1960

The Miles Davis Story, 2001

The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration, 2003

Jazz on a Summer's Day, 1960

One Night With Blue Note, 1985

Special note: "One Night With Blue Note" has been my favorite video thus far. It features performances by Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Jackie McLean, Art Blakey, and others. Great sound and picture quality. Hubbard playing Moanin' with Art Blakey was incredible...

VIDEOS IN MY QUEUE

Ron Carter and Art Farmer: Live

Jazz Scene USA: Adderley & Edwards

Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor

Miles Davis: Cool Jazz Sound

Dizzy's Dream Band

A Tribute to Bill Evans

Tribute to John Coltrane

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

[ and many more... ]