Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Rhino / Wea
• VHS Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Run Time: 23 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305979561
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,166 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On October 17, 1961, the popular and pioneering pianist-composer Dave Brubeck performed on Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual, the television show that showcased some of the finest jazz artists in a half-hour of no-frills performance and conversation. Backed by the Lester Young-influenced alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello, Brubeck and his combo perform some of their odd-metered hits. Desmond's dancing ditty, "Take Five" is rendered in a faster tempo than the studio version. Brubeck's ragtime-flavored "(It's a) Raggy Waltz," highlights his percussive piano lines, while "Castillian Blues" and the Turkish strains of "Blue Rondo a la Turk" reveal his multicultural, compositional genius. Gleason, the show's creator and host, was a well-respected, San Francisco-based jazz critic and author. He remarks during the show that Dave Brubeck was "a provocative, experimental, and interesting musician." That statement is still true today. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From the Back Cover

When Ralph Gleason asked Dave Brubeck to appear on his television series, Jazz Casual, in 1961, it was only natural; not only was the Dave Brubeck Quartet one of the most popular jazz combos in the world at that time and a favorite at clubs in San Francisco, but both Dave Brubeck and his featured alto sax player Paul Desmond were Bay Area natives (Brubeck was born in Concord, Desmond in Berkeley). This episode features the quartet performing Paul Desmond's 1961 jazz classic Take Five. This lineup of the quartet, with Brubeck on piano, Desmond on alto sax, "Senator" Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums, was considered by many, including Gleason and Brubeck, himself, to be the best of the Brubeck Quartet lineups to date. The cover photo on this volume, by Jerry Stoll, is a rare treat in and of itself. As Jazz Casual was recorded and mixed "live" to videotape, the noise of a still camera was discouraged. So this photo comes from the only roll of still photograph film of a Jazz Casual production set known to exist!
-Toby Gleason

Musicians include:
Dave Brubeck - piano
Paul Desmond - saxophone
Eugene Wright - bass
Joe Morello - drums

Song list includes:
Take Five
(It's a) Raggy Waltz
Castillian Blues
Waltz Limp
Blue Rondo a la Turk

Air date: October 17, 1961
Total time: 30 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, terrible tease, March 4, 2003

By 

J. Myers "myerspercussion" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jazz Casual - Dave Brubeck (DVD)

I am a HUGE DBQ fan. I have been to dozens of concerts, own everything they've published, even studied with Joe Morello. The only reason you would want to buy this curious DVD is to see what they looked like in black and white in 1962 ... and remind yourself how lousy TV production was in those days. This cheesy production used 2 cameras (4 is more typical today) on clumsy pedestals that got pushed....no, bullied... around the floor as they go from Desmond to Brubeck. (Paul has to get out of the way on one such "smooth" move.)

Much of the coverage is a 3-shot, leaving out Morello, frustrating anyone who wants to see that genius. There are a few mikes around the studio and they are often "opened" late, causing some of Desmond's work to be heard only from a distant mike by Dave's piano. Blue Rondo is cut off about a minute in so the host can say goodbye. A very rough cut brings us back to the group, only to fade out for good after the 9/8 intro settles in to the 4/4 heart of the song. Dave's playing is brilliant and we see it for all of its glory. But he spends far too much time TALKING instead of playing.

Joe provides a couple of good (frankly, not great -- no cross sticking, high hat or up close work that would later define his genius) 5/4 solos on Take 5 and Castilian Blues. He uses two cymbals on stands... hadn't quite evolved to his classic set with a 20" bass-mounted ride, 18 and 16" crashes. He's on a lousy riser and his set jiggles like Jell-o the whole show.

So if you want to hear great playing, this ain't it. Want to take a bumpy ride down memory lane for about 25 min? Then that's what you're getting. Nothing more.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Money, March 24, 2001

By 

KeithBeverley (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jazz Casual - Dave Brubeck [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After finally purchasing a video of my favorite jazz group I was satisfied...and yet disappointed. The group performed as well as ever but the quality of sound was so bad...but then it was forty years ago!!! Both Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond play interesting solos - Paul especially is excellent on Take Five and Dave gets in to some typical time changes in Its A Raggy Waltz. Didn't care at all for Ralph Gleason and was pleased he didn't waste any more interviewing. Poor Dave Brubeck seemed strained, or nervous, as he introduced the various pieces by the group. But I would pay the money again to watch the group that has given so many hours of pleasure over the past five decades.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A jaw-dropping classic., November 24, 2003

By 

Some punk (Grapevine, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jazz Casual - Dave Brubeck (DVD)

This edition of Jazz Casual is one of my three favorite, the others being Coltrane and Dizzy. Although Brubeck achieved some measure of popularity with the hit, "Take Five" in the 60's, his innovation and creativity never faltered.
I first saw this video at a friend's house, and I found myself either staring open mouthed or laughing uncontrollably at the sheer MADNESS of Dave's playing, not to mention Desmonds. "Time Out" became not only a song, but a concept. Brubeck uses time signature like no one ever has, playing different time signatures than his rhythm section, and even playing different time signatures with his left hand than he does with his right. It's pure brilliance. This video is totally worth the money.