| | |  | Other | Home » » » Anita O'Day - The Life Of A Jazz Singer | | | | | | | Description: | | Anita O'Day was one of the greatest American Jazz singers and this critically acclaimed award-winning documentary tells her astonishing story - a journey of survival, and above all the enduarance of her talent, told in a number of frank interviews with her and with those who knew her. Her career was long and eventful, spanning seven decades; her last album recorded when she was 84. Disc 1 : The Movie with Director s audio commentary and French, Spanish and Japanese. We might add Italian subtitles. 16:9 formatting for widescreen and 4:3 televisions. Disc 2: Bonus Disc with 45 minutes of the uninterrupted musical performances from the film and 45 Minutes of outtake interviews of Anita. | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Anita O'Day | | Director:
| Robbie Cavolina | | Format:
| Color, DVD, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 2 | | Studio:
| RED Distribution DVD | | Run Time:
| 120 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| July 21, 2009 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 27 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 27 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 46 found the following review helpful:
 No stylist quite like Ms O'DayJul 24, 2009
By Ian Muldoon
Ms O'Day preferred the title "stylist" as opposed to "singer" which I find an interesting distinction. I gather she made the distinction in acknowledgement that she had little vocal range, an ordinary tone, and a strange timbre.
My first significant encounter with her music was post Gene Krupa with the release in 1956 of ANITA by Norman Granz and the best version of HONEYSUCKLE ROSE with its solo bass opening and quartet of trombones closing the final chorus. The whole album though, was and remains, one of her best, and one of the best of any JAZZ singer. And that's where her reputation so superbly lies - as one of the very best JAZZ vocalists ever, and an individual woman who was a great survivor in a very difficult business - that she was embraced by the jazz community including afro american musicians, she got through the heroin journey, she overcame the "canary" prejudice of "girl" singer by her musical brilliance in being accepted rather as another musical INSTRUMENT instead of the "front" for a band.
This documentary - one of the best (musical ones) I've seen which was featured in the 2008 Sydney Film Festival - also reveals her character. Moral strength, modesty, honesty, understanding and self awareness and I guess, joy of music, of living, are her distinguishing characteristics.
PLenty of good music in the film as well!!
28 of 29 found the following review helpful:
Under-appreciated jazz vocalist!Jun 08, 2009
By J
For a film documentary profile, there's no substitute for substantial footage of the subject him/herself providing their own reflections on his/her life and career. It's great that this documentary captures so much of Anita's own charmingly candid recollections of the ups and downs in her under-appreciated career. An interesting look of the life of a great, great jazz singer.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Won't find it at Redbox or anywhere save Netflix...Sep 08, 2009
By Anthony Pierulla
But it is worth the price. It covers it all no holds barred.
Story of a great singer/stylist with a dramatic life. Read her book and she for sure was one of a kind and her singing always makes my heart skip and beat faster, love her reditions.
Saw her at the Rainbow Room in '99 and she was well past her prime. Another fan, a girl, and myself asked her if she could sing "Am I Blue" and she said she never heard of it. When we both said it was our favorite she told us to go to the bandstand and sing it ourselves. I was blue after this but after watching the movie I realized I had been O'Dayed by the real thing.
The angels will be hard pressed to keep up with her scat, that is if she made it there but if god loves to swing she is there and doing it her way. Loved her since 1958.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The Epitome of Jazz Embodied in a Female VocalistSep 07, 2009
By Amy Ketchum
Anita O'Day is the only white female jazz stylist to be ranked up with the greats - Ella, Billie, and Sarah, (and the first female vocalist of Verve Records) so why don't we hear more about her? As a vocalist myself, I feel I may have watched this documentary a little differently than the average viewer and I will say - SHE'S GOT IT. 'IT' being style, class, presence, timbre, quality, and creativity. Her comfort level in the realm of jazz allowed her to fully embody what jazz is and provided the backdrop to improv like no other artist has achieved. She is the greatest.
This video documentary is what the fans have been waiting for packed with interviews, performances, and those who she touched over the years sharing their thoughts of the experiences they had. If you buy the DVD, make sure you buy this version with the book, you will not be sorry! Clippings from O'Days personal scrapbook add a touch of insight into this artists world from fame to drugs and jail to her beautiful outlook on life and enchanting spirit.
My only dislike about this product is during the DVD a few interviews take place but it does not state who the person is or the significance of the person in Anita's life. This does, however, only happen on a few occassions but leaves the viewer guessing. If you have NO IDEA who Anita O'Day is and you can't see yourself spending this much money for the DVD with book, then you can purchase the DVD by itself or I would suggest "Jazz On A Summer's Day" which captures an amazing performance of "Tea for Two" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" from Anita O'Day. I simply cannot say enough about this artist, she is breath taking and will be missed.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
 Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer...Nov 19, 2009
By Julian Kennedy
Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer: 6 out of 10: I had no idea who Anita O'Day was when I rented this film. I like Jazz well enough and enjoy having it as background music, but I am hardly what one describes as an aficionado.
Since viewing this film, I have watched the wonderful documentary 'Jazz on a Summer's Day' and have downloaded some fine Anita O'Day jazz albums.
Therefore, from one point of view, the documentary is a stunning success. It got me interested enough in its subject, for me to take actions after viewing.
The film however suffers from uneven interviews and presentation. Film quality is all over the map and some of O'Day's last interviews were clearly filmed by folks unfamiliar with the workings of a motion picture camera.
Even more disappointing is the poor sound quality of many of the musical tracks and the lack of sampling from her albums.
You know if you have a 16-year heroin addiction and four failed marriages and you still manage to live until 87 despite grinding poverty and botched healthcare, you are the definition one tough bird. Unfortunately that also signifies most of your contemporaries are long dead. Many of the war stories as a result, tend to be second hand at best.
The film does contain one wonderful non-musical highlight. In a mid-seventies interview a young Bryant Gumbel states to O'Day 'Your life story involves rape, failed relationships, drugs, and multiple abortions". O'Day's that is just they way it went down response is priceless.
Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer is a decent film but I would recommend renting Jazz on a Summer's Day first. That concert seems to capture the magic better than anything else I have seen.
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