Product Details

• Directors: Steve Ruggi
• Format: Import, NTSC
• Studio: 20th Cent Jazz Mast.
• DVD Release Date: November 25, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B0000Y40NY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,341 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Great Performances" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Historic, July 1, 2008

By 

rayjazz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Performances (DVD)

I originally reviewed this DVD in July 2008. pointing out that this DVD features Lester young on the cover in his characteristic pork pie hat. I've informed Amazon of this fact, but to no avail. This has nothing to do with Walter Cronkite or Liza Minnelli. What is it?, it is 4 different performances with 4 bonus songs. The first is Jammin' the Blues featuring Lester Young and llinois Jacquet on tenor sax, Harry Sweets Edison on trumpet, Marlowe Morris on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Red Callendar/John Simmons on bass, Sid Catlet/Jo Jones on bass, Maria Bryant vocal and dance, and Archie Savage dance. This segment was produced in 1944 and for it's time, it is state of the art. On a Maria Bryant vocal, the camera starts out on her reflected image on the piano, this Dvd is worthwhile just for this look at these great performances. Next is Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Charlie Parker on alto sax, Dick Hyman on piano, Charlie Smith on drums, doing the tune Hot House. Next we have Jazz at the Philharmonic with Harry Edison on trumpet, Bill Harris on trombone, Charlie Parker on alto sax, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Flip Phillips on tenor sax, Hank Jones on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Buddy Rich on drums, and Ella Fitzgeral with a vocal. The highlight for me in this set, is the boyist grin of Charlie Parker next to Coleman Hawkins trading chops, great. The last segment is Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra. This segment is not in sync with the video, that said this is great you have Miles Davis with John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers booming bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums with the Gil Evans Orchestra, too many personell to list. The So What track is my favorite, of course from the Kinda Blue Cd. This is history in the making.