http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdz88MBWomo - The Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown, demonstrating his jaw-droppingly mesmerising rhythmic & dance virtuosity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rz2jRHA9fo - The ever candid and opinionated Branford Marsalis on the state of U.S. culture today, and its students & educational institutions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJiUi3dcOp0 - Branford Marsalis again, this time on the legacy of slavery in United States.  I've never heard a more profoundly eloquent and emotionally resonant explanation of slavery's devastating effect on U.S. culture and on African-Americans in particular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tt9yrsVQrc - from Dizzy Gillespie's 70th birthday concert at Wolf Trap in Virginia.  As a high school kid I recorded this concert on my family's v.c.r. when it was broadcast on U.S. public television and watched it over & over & over again.  Years later I found myself in New York making music with the very same musicians I'd listened to & watched on that video tape - Charli Persip, Rufus Reid, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Carter, Arnie Lawrence, and many others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iDmPXlWfZE - another movie I recorded on the family's v.c.r., this time from M.T.V. - "Bring On The Night", about Sting's first solo project.  I watched this over & over & over again too, and it's another of the films that deeply influenced my music and my choice to become a musician.  The fun that these musicians are having working together is absolutely contagious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxe7B9p04yg - I'm completely blown away by this portrayal of Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa's unending dedication to his craft, and by his amazing longevity and mastery of his art.  It's the kind of mastery that can only come from a lifetime spent in the service of one's art.  Truly inspiring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBqtKU71PeI - the band Dirty Loops covering the song "Circus" by Claude Kelly, Lukasz Gottwald, & Benjamin Levin and originally recorded by Britney Spears.  A great reworking of a pop song by some very inspired virtuoso musicians.  Love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0 - I stumbled on this video when I was eating steak 'n' kidney pie & chips in a hotel lobby in London while on tour.  I was immediately captivated by the humour and how brilliantly simple the video is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsBC5C5ERho - a brilliant combination of bebop virtuosity and comic acting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS21T_p0pNA - a classic comedy routine set to one of the all time great swing recordings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU - this one speaks for itself.  Love these guys!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQp_AzfCwM - a wonderful anecdote told by Bobby Hutcherson about one of my musical heroes, Joe Henderson.  My friend Joe Gilman is Bobby Hutcherson's pianist, and through Joe I've had the pleasure of hanging out with Bobby.  He's a great story teller, and has many stories to tell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCzW4fVRViI - so you wanna be a rock drummer?...

 ~Arun