The Bill Evans Trio welcomes Stan Getz in this live set from the early seventies. The music is very laid back and never gets too rambunctious. Getz and Evans play beautifully off each other. Getz’s tenor has such a big delicious tone and he even plays “Happy Birthday” for Evans.

Grade: A.

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Sonny Stitt follows in the footsteps of Charlie Parker in this blistering set of standards and original compositions. His clean, singing tone on both alto and tenor saxes is on magnificent display here. The fluidity of Stitt’s solo work with his masterful rhythm section makes this a thoroughly enjoyable album.

Grade: A+.

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Sarah Polley stars in this strange, slow-paced character study about a loner factory worker who spends her vacation on a North Sea oil rig, caring for an injured man. While all the characters are likeable and well-acted, the script leaves many important questions unanswered and loses coherent focus.

Grade: B-.

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Said and Khaled are recruited as suicide bombers and tasked with carrying out an operation in Tel Aviv. This Oscar-nominated picture follows two young Palestinian men who are about to commit an unthinkably violent act and explores difficult questions of morality and loyalty in the face of unbelievable oppression.

Grade: B+.

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A definitive collection of mid-tempo tunes and ballads, this stunning set includes a number of compositions by Miles Davis and Gerry Mulligan. This group of stars delivers a must-have album, easily accessible to any listener—full of incredible, but not dizzyingly fast, improvisational moments and pure musical magic.

Grade: A+.

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Abbey Lincoln, one of the legends of vocal jazz, evokes Billie Holiday in this beautiful, bluesy set of standards from 1959. Her vocal power is on full display here, with the help of a fantastic rhythm section and Kenny Dorham on trumpet. The emotional richness in her music is remarkable.

Grade: B+.

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John Coltrane leads a quartet of stars in this four-part jazz suite that displays an emotional depth, improvisational mastery, and technical facility that could not be described with any word short of perfect. Every note by every musician is a revelation. This spectacular record belongs in everyone’s music collection.

Grade: A++.

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The legendary tenor saxophonist, Dexter Gordon, stars as a fictional tenorman in this Bertrand Tavernier picture about the friendship between a famous American jazz musician and a French fan. A uniquely beautiful story, good acting performances, and a spectacular soundtrack featuring performances by a phenomenal performer make this film unforgettable.

Grade: A-.

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Morgan Freeman narrates this nature documentary that chronicles the mating, incubating, and birthing journey of the Emperor penguins in Antarctica. The sheer majesty of these incredible birds is a sight to behold. The beautiful cinematography and a haunting orchestral score enhance an educational experience, appropriate for viewers of all ages.

Grade: B+.

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Stunning visuals and a gorgeous soundtrack make this period piece about a geisha working in Japan through end of World War II. We get a glimpse into the traditional world of the geisha, as well as conniving and backstabbing competition among them. This picture is a certainly wonder to behold.

Grade: A.

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