Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Tdk DVD Video
• DVD Release Date: September 26, 2006
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000H9HWR8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,705 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Jazz Times

"Jazz Icons is doing for jazz what the Criterion Collection has done for classic and important films".

Product Description

Jazz Icons: Dizzy Gillespie features two historic concerts from one of the founding fathers of bebop. Filmed 12 years apart, the 1958 concert features Dizzy working eloquently within the small combo structure of a quintet including such infl uential musicians as sax player Sonny Stitt and bassist Ray Brown. The second show focuses on a completely different side of Dizzy, fronting the legendary Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band. With a 16-piece big band to conduct, including two drummers, his Latin infl uences are revealed on Â"Con AlmaÂ" and Â"Manteca.Â"

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two views of Dizzy, December 7, 2006

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Jazz Icons: Dizzy Gillespie Live in '58 and '70 (DVD)

This DVD features two fine European concerts, one from 1958, the other from 1970, both showing Gillespie in fine fettle. The '58 concert features Gillespie and saxophonist Sonny Stitt fronting a small combo, each radiating elegance and cool; the 1970 show has Dizzy doubling as bandleader and soloist, leading a 16-piece big band that slips from complex ensemble arrangements to brash, brassy hard bop and into funk, bluesy grooves, with Gillespie blowing each with equal ease. And he looks hella cool at all times. Great look at this master jazzman, still playing in his prime over a 12-year stretch.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars life could be so fine as mm,mm mm,mm wine!, December 29, 2006

By 

James A. Pantano "jackthewhack" (beacon, new york United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jazz Icons: Dizzy Gillespie Live in '58 and '70 (DVD)

if you dig on dizzy then you will love this dvd. two outstanding performances with outstanding audio and video. really! i dont know if the jazz icon people spent time remastering this footage or if it was really well preserved, but i was very impressed with the audio/video quality. to me its a small miracle that archival type footage such as that released by the jazz icon series is avaiable. they are to be commended. i also purchased art blakey, thelonius monk and buddy rich and although i have not watched the buddy rich dvd yet the blakey and monk dvds are also outstanding in quality and content. more please! each dvd also comes with a really nice booklet about the artist. highly recommended!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dizzy and Sonny, November 13, 2006

By 

Sonny (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Jazz Icons: Dizzy Gillespie Live in '58 and '70 (DVD)

The 1958 recording is great; Sonny Stitt is in his prime this year (this is the same year he recorded with Rollins and Gillespie on the classic Sonny Side Up), and he is at his performance peak on this recording. Stitt is really relaxed and articulates unbelievably well. His tenor sound is unique, and he flies through notes with ease on the alto. I think he steals the show.
The 1970 recording features Gillespie with the Kenny Clarke Big Band, and Dizzy is outstanding, spitting out long, exciting runs with ease. You see his sense of humor here also.
Any fan of Stitt or Gillespie (or jazz) will enjoy this DVD - the 1958 footage is classic.