Customer Reviews

Norman Granz Jazz in Montreux Presents Tommy Flanagan Trio '77

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The anguish I went through to finish watching this disc. Tommy Flanagan plays impeccably, but his side men trashed the performance. Bass man Betts rushed all the tempi to where drummer Durham had no choice but try and keep up with him. Tommy tried to keep the tempi down but Betts kept playing way to far ahead of the beat to where it felt like a runaway train.

Compared to the rest of the Norman Granz series the sound is not the best on this one. The bass is over miched and the overall balance of the three instruments are uneven. The only saving grace were the slow tracks where the tempi remained steady.

Tommy deserved better. I'll probably never watch this video again. I don't recommend it.

This trio set from 1977 shows off the immaculate skills of the great Tommy Flanagan. Best known as an accompanist, for among others Ella Fitzgerald, here he gets a chance to stretch out in his own right.

The numbers played are:

Barbados

Heat Wave

Some Other Spring/Easy Living

Star Crossed Lovers/Jump For Joy

Woody 'N' You

Blue Bossa

Accompanying Flanagan are Bobby Durham on Drums and Keeter Betts on Bass.

Like all the DVD's in this series the playing is of the highest standard, so you won't be disappointed.

The Detroit-born Jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan(1930-2001) is probably one of the most underrated Jazz pianist of all time. He was well known as accompanist for Ella Fitzgerald and sideman for John Coltrane. However,he never gained the reputation and credit as Jazz Megastar as he deserved. probably beacuse he was never a showy person either on or off the stage

Ever since I had his recording "Giant Steps"(enja)years ago, Tommy Flanagan has always been one of my favorite Bop player, along with Bud Powell. To experience how piano can sing like saxphone, do not miss "Giant Step" by T.F.

This is the only color DVD concert footage that I know of T.F. The camera work is disappointing compared to some of Montreux series release. The shot is either too far away from the back of T.F or too close to the hand that does not show any fingerwork. The young Bobby Durham (drummer)actually got the better shot in this show and was having a good time.

Musically,this is without doubt terrific even in Tommy Flanagan's own standard--elegance,superb articulation and shifting. If only the camera man could have done a better job.

Still recommend for Tommy Flanagan's fans.