Category Archives: DVD

Concert, DVD

Hot Tuna- 25 Years & Runnin’ / Live at Sweetwater

Hot Tuna- 25 Years & Runnin’ / Live at Sweetwater
Executive Producers: Hot Tuna, KQED-PBS
Produced & Directed by Jesse Block
Production period: 1992

Hot Tuna- Sweetwater DVDMany years before MTV utilized the “Unplugged” formula to showcase musical acts in acoustic settings, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady travelled a similar path, diverging from their respective roles in the Jefferson Airplane group to create an acoustic alternative that would be known as Hot Tuna. Exploring a twenty-five year legacy, this concert documentary is the first of two programs to focus on Hot Tuna, using the intimate Sweetwater Saloon of Mill Valley, California as a backdrop for their story. Octalouie director Jesse Block created this program back in 1992, utliizing Octalouie partner Eric Predoehl on handheld camera for this intimate portrait.

Produced in conjunction with San Francisco’s PBS affiliate station KQED, this program is widely available on DVD, VHS, 8-track, Super8 and zoetrope.

Hey block, you reading this? Just checkin…

Concert, Documentaries, DVD, Music

John Cipollina Recoil 3-DVD Box Set

John Cipollina Recoil 3-DVD Box Set
Cippoina Family Trust
Produced by Jesse Block
2010

The long-out-of-print documentary on ‘John Cipollina- Electric Guitarslinger‘ directed by Jesse Block and Jim Draper shall soon be released for the first time on DVD. ‘Recoil,” a 3-DVD set box will include this documentary, and a lot of previously unavailable music and interviews.

This 3 DVD box set provides an almost six hour journey through the Rock ‘n Roll life and music of John Cipollina. Along with the one-hour re-mastered “Electric Guitarslinger” documentary, this captivating documentary features interviews with Jerry Garcia, Bill Graham, Barry Melton, David Freiberg, Nick Gravenites, Gary Duncan, Nicky Hopkins, Greg Douglass, Merl Saunders, Dan Healy, Terry Dolan, Martin Fierro, Rocky Sullivan, Joel Selvin, Charlie Deal, Michael and Mario Cipollina and more. Also included are interviews with John Cipollina from 1984 and 1989.

The Concert DVD includes 19 previously unreleased songs performed by Quicksilver Messenger Service, Copperhead, Link Wray, Thunder & Lightning, Terry & The Pirates and Dinosaurs.

John Cipollina: Recoil is a limited edition release, with a one-time only 2000 unit printing.

It can be purchased directly from the JohnCipollina.com website.

http://www.johncipollina.com/guitarslinger.html

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Concert, Documentaries, DVD, Music

Brotherly Jazz: The Heath Brothers

Here’s an excerpt of the movie BROTHERLY JAZZ- The Heath Brothers, a documentary produced by Danny Scher, directed by Jesse Block.

Brotherly Jazz- The Heath Brothers” paints a vivid portrait of Philadelphia’s Heath Brothers — bassist Percy, saxophonist/composer/arranger Jimmy, and drummer Albert “Tootie” — through words and music, notably a 2004 California concert that marked one of the last times the brothers performed together. In a series of revealing interviews, the brothers tell their stories. Percy talks about his stint as a Tuskegee Airman, his bass lessons from Ray Brown, and his lengthy tenure with the Modern Jazz Quartet. Jimmy discusses the painful years he spent in prison and how he definitively turned his life around as a composer, arranger, and educator. And youngest brother “Tootie” admits that “had it not been for my older brothers, I might have gone astray and become a doctor or lawyer.”

Containing fascinating archival material about the Heaths’ family life and early professional activities as well as rarely seen footage of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and other bebop figures, Brotherly Jazz also features new interviews with key friends, admirers, and fellow musicians, including: Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock; Taj Mahal; Jack DeJohnette; Peter Jennings; Christian McBride. Brotherly Jazz makes abundantly clear that there’s a lot more to their lives than stellar musical accomplishments. Percy, Jimmy, and “Tootie” are beguiling characters, raconteurs par excellence, and beloved members of the jazz fraternity.

For more information about the film, go to:
http://www.brotherlyjazz.com

Concert, DVD, Events, Music

Todd Rundgren – Live In San Francisco

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Todd Rundgren performed live at Maritime Hall in San Francisco in 2000, and our guy Jesse Block was given the opportunity to direct the video. Available at all the usual outlets, the DVD of this show includes such songs as I Hate My Frickin ISP, Yer Fast, Black and White, Number 1 Lowest Common Denominator, Open My Eyes, Trapped, Love in Action, Bang the Drum All Day, Temporary Insanity, Medley: Mystified/Broke Down and Busted, Buffalo Grass, and more!

Studio: Alchemedia Productions in conjunction with Image Entertainment
Director: Jesse Block
Release Date: Jun 11, 2002
Running Time: 81 Minutes

Concert, DVD, Events, Music

Dan Hicks’ Birthday Party at Warfield

Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks
Executive Producer: Dave Kaplan / Surfdog Records
Associate Producer + Technical Director: Jesse Block
Production period: 2002-2003

Dan Hicks DVD
It was a very special night in December 2002 when Dan Hicks‘ 60th birthday was celebrated in a grandiose style at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. An all-star cast of friends, featuring various members of Dan’s past and present bands, joined their friend to celebrate with an unforgettable night of memories, stories, and magnificent music.

Octalouie principal Jesse Block was brought as associate producer & technical director for video production of this event, coordinating camera operations and technical logistics.

Octalouie principal Eric Predoehl also worked on this production, credited on the DVD as one of the live audio engineers.