Bruce Ricker

A chronological look at the life and career of jazz musician, composer, and performer Dave Brubeck (1920-2012 ), presented through contemporary interviews, archival footage of interviews and performances, and commentary by family, fellow musicians, and aficionados. Emphases include his mother's influence, his wife's invention of college tours, his skill as an accompanist, the great quartet (with Desmond, Morello, and Wright), his ability to find musical ideas everywhere, his orchestral compositions, his religious conversion, and his unflagging sweet nature.

8/10

Documentary - Admired and praised by the likes of Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer has been described as "one of our great folk poets" and "the most perfect American lyricist." Throughout his extraordinary career, he collaborated with hundreds of composers to write legendary movie songs such as "Hooray for Hollywood," "Jeepers Creepers" and "Moon River." Mercer then went on to co-found Capitol Records in 1942 and became a successful Broadway producer of St. Louis Woman and L'il Abner. - Bill Charlap, Julie Andrews, Harold Arlen

7.6/10

This documentary, produced by actor-producer-director Clint Eastwood, reflects on the life and journey of Bennett, using both archival and recent footages, including never before seen clips from his performance at the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival.

7.6/10