Top Picks: The digital magazine Marvelous, 'Gravity' on DVD and Blu-ray, and more
Artistic exploration ...
An impressive roster of award-winning artists and rising stars explored the intersection of jazz and classical music at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Jazz and the Philharmonic features Bobby McFerrin (pictured), Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, Terence Blanchard, Eric Owens, Desmond Richardson, Shelly Berg, and the University of Miami鈥檚 Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. Together they infuse classical works with contemporary improvisations, creating an evening of pure delight. It premi猫res Feb. 28 on .
... where classical meets jazz
Sometimes cerebral cool, sometimes smokin鈥� hot, pianist 鈥檚 premi猫re on the Concord Jazz label, Anthem for a New Day, deftly navigates the jazz idiom while engaging her classical roots. Jazz standard 鈥淚t Don鈥檛 Mean a Thing,鈥� Duke Ellington鈥檚 paean to swing, is treated with a quiet, playful turn while Sung鈥檚 own composition 鈥淐haos Theory鈥� demonstrates the full range of her jazz chops as she lets loose across the keyboard. Sung boldly embraces both her passions.
Roots of positivity
Your thinking influences your experience. It鈥檚 an idea so completely accepted that we tend to take it for granted. But 鈥� as ably demonstrates in his thoughtful, well-researched book One Simple Idea 鈥� it took America by storm when Mary Baker Eddy (the founder of the Monitor) and other 19th- and early 20th-century thinkers first proposed it. Horowitz has done his homework; his 鈥渟piritual history鈥� of the many facets of what many call 鈥減ositive thinking鈥� makes a fascinating read.
Pocket history
Documentarian Ken Burns has made a long career of retracing America鈥檚 footsteps. His new iPad-exclusive app, simply titled Ken Burns, collects close to four hours of clips from his many works, including 鈥淛azz,鈥� 鈥淭he Civil War,鈥� and 鈥淭he Central Park Five.鈥� People can comb through these videos, including new introductions from the filmmaker, or queue up thematic playlists. One theme, Innovation, comes free of charge. Unlocking the full experience costs $9.99.
Space travel
Dazzling space visuals arrive in your living room with the DVD and Blu-ray release of Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as two astronauts in peril. The movie, directed by Alfonso Cuar贸n, is a front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar, and its entrancingly eerie opening scene alone will make you feel the immensity of space. It鈥檚 available on Feb. 25.
Online distraction
Do you find yourself procrastinating by trolling through funny videos and breathtaking nature photos reposted by your friends on Facebook? Consider Marvelous for your next online distraction. It鈥檚 a digital magazine that 鈥渆xplores natural and human wonders鈥� ranging from close-up photos of animal eyes (truly freaky) to 鈥渕elting china鈥� sculptures to a video of a toddler discovering rain for the first time. Check it out at .
