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Jazz Legends Live! (review)

2006; Music Library Association; Volume: 62; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/not.2006.0005

1534-150X

Ray Anthony Briggs,

American Sports and Literature

Reviewed by: Jazz Legends Live! Ray Briggs Jazz Legends Live! 13 vols. DVD. Produced by Kim Lyon & Gary Peet. Oaks, PA: Quantum Leap Productions, 2004–2005. Available from Music Video Distributors, Inc. DJ-878 through DJ-891. $9.95 each. The Jazz Legends series is comprised of thirteen volumes that present a rather eclectic sampling of jazz artists performing in motion pictures, club dates, and jazz festivals around the world. The professional footage used in the collection offers an interesting glimpse of some the biggest names in jazz such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, as well as the lesser-known fusion-oriented groups of the 1980s. In this work, the executive producers of the series have assumed the daunting task of synthesizing such a wide range of artists and styles into a coherent and accessible format for [End Page 789] the viewing audience. Moreover, it is precisely in this area that the series may be viewed either as maverick in assembling such a collage of material or careless in the disregard for the compatibility of those included. Jazz historians, enthusiasts, and musicians often indulge in the never-ending debate on whether real jazz is exclusively an acoustic music or inclusive of the use of electric instruments. The producers of Jazz Legends obviously rest in accordance with the latter stance. In a single volume one might view a performance of the great swing style tenor saxophonist, Arnett Cobb, followed by a fusion band like Steps Ahead. I was frequently challenged to find the common thread that unifies such disparate artists and at times was unsuccessful in doing so. While this may not be so problematic for some viewers who insist that jazz exists in various styles and instrumentation choices, the inclusion of the Memphis Soul group from Stax Records, Booker T and the MGs, stretches even the broadest definitions of jazz. In my mind, the most pressing issue goes beyond definitions of what is or isn't jazz or personal preferences for acoustic or fusion styles. Most disturbing is the uneven presentation of notable artists alongside those of questionable significance that are placed in the series. Icons like Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, McCoy Tyner, and Carmen McRae have become pillars of the music, while pianist/vocalist Ben Sidran (who teams up with rock guitarist Steve Miller for a few tunes) can hardly be included among them. For this reason, I was left with the thought that the material used in this series was not orchestrated along any specific theme, but was simply constructed out of whatever was available to the producers. If true, this would account for the hit-and-miss style approach to the series. Aside from the previously discussed areas, the series has some notable traits worth mentioning. The footage used in the series is of professional quality and very enjoyable to watch. Also, listed under the "Extras" heading in the main menu, each volume includes a biography and discography of the artists and groups featured. The biographical information on alto saxophonist, Frank Morgan, was particularly insightful as it included direct quotes of the artist speaking on the mentorship of bebop legend Charlie Parker (vol. 6). The performances of pianist Monty Alexander (vol. 6) and vocalist Carmen McRae (vol. 6 & 8) were especially captivating. The majority of the series (vols. 2–13) is dedicated to live performances of various artists at club dates, jazz festivals, or in the concert halls of Europe. Subtitled as "The Golden Age of Jazz" vol. 1 was complied from the motion picture performances of great artists like Ellington, Cab Calloway, and the Dorsey Brothers. Overall, the Jazz Legends series seems appropriate for both the newcomer and aficionado of jazz. Newcomers may come away with a good sense of how diverse jazz truly is and the more experienced listener may find rare footage of their favorite artists. To the credit of the producers, the series makes some attempt at providing a deeper understanding of the music and musicians through the biographical discography information, which unfortunately includes misspellings in the text and in some cases spotty coverage of the featured artists' recorded materials. Ray Briggs California State University, Long Beach Copyright © 2006 the Music Library...