Video of the Day: “Jazz Dispute” by Jeremiah McDonald,the Weeping Prophet

“Jazz Dispute” by Jeremiah McDonald, a film-maker and actor who identifies himself as the “Weeping Prophet,” has been going viral on YouTube since 2006.  If you haven’t seen it, now’s the time.  Starting with the Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie recording, “Leap Frog,” McDonald creates a brilliantly mimetic, one-man musical pantomime.  And in doing so he captures the essence of spontaneously improvisational jazz at its best.  While adding his own oddball humor.

Here it is:

Video of the Weekend: The Patty Cake Cats Rehearse

By Don Heckman

This hilarious video has been floating around YouTube in various forms lately.  But the most entertaining, to me, is this one, with the narrative in French, with English subtitles.  Which not only makes it more offbeat, it makes it a delightful tool, either for French language classes or for those of us eager to brush up on our own bi-lingualism (such as it is).

The two cats are a sheer delight.  And, from a musical perspective, there are occasional passages in the narrative exchanges that remind me of the craziness in more than a few band rehearsals I’ve been a part of.

So watch, listen, read and enjoy the Pattycake Cats.

(And check out the Jedi Cats in the additional pages at the end of the video.)

Video of the Day: The Perpetuum Jazzile Choir Sings “Wave”

The Perpetuum Jazzile Choir from Slovenia is a superb ensemble of young singers whose repertoire reaches from jazz, pop and Swing to bossa nova, funk and gospel.  They’ve toured Europe, Canada and the U.S., performing the music of Jobim, the Beatles, Van Halen, Lady Gaga and beyond, usually done in rich a cappella harmonies and rhythms –- and always with striking musical authenticity.  Here they perform Jobim’s “Wave.”

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Thanks to Roger Crane for turning us on to this remarkable musical collective.  To see and hear more videos by Perpetuum Jazille click HERE.