Product Description

Jazz Icons: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers features what many consider to be one of the fi nest line-ups in the history of jazz—Bobby Timmons (Piano), Jymie Merritt (Bass), Benny Golson (Sax) and the legendary trumpet player, Lee Morgan. Lost for nearly 50 years, this historic 55 minute concert, fi lmed in Belgium in 1958, one month to the day after they recorded their masterpiece Moanin,’ is the only known visual document of this infl uential band who were together for only six months.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26933 in DVD
• Brand: Reelin' In the Years
• Model: DVWW-JIBOX
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 55 minutes

Amazon.com
The edition of drummer Art Blakey's protean Jazz Messengers featured on this DVD had been together for just a couple of months when Live in '58 was recorded in Brussels, Belgium. As it happened, this quintet would stay together for barely half a year--but what a lineup it was, with Blakey joined by pianist Bobby Timmons, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, bassist Jymie Merritt, and the astonishing 20-year-old trumpeter Lee Morgan. All five were powerhouse musicians, but what made these Messengers, and this hour-long show, really special was the presence of two world-class composers: Golson (two of whose three contributions here, "I Remember Clifford" and "Whisper Not," are certified jazz classics) and Timmons (whose "Moanin'," recorded just a month earlier, is another classic and one of the signature tunes in the entire Blue Note Records catalogue). The 14-minute version of "Moanin'" may be the highlight of the night. The song itself, with its gospel-based, call-and-response verse alternating with an ineffably swinging bridge, is irresistible; add to that some wonderful individual soloing, especially by the ultra-funky Timmons, and you've got a performance of timeless brilliance. Not that the others aren't good as well. Morgan shines on "Clifford," Golson's tribute to the late trumpeter Clifford Brown; the entire group cooks like mad on the uptempo standard "It's You or No One"; and "A Night in Tunisia" showcases Blakey, the band's engine and one of the few drummers whose style, with its African influences matched by effortless swing, is instantly recognizable. While they may not be up to new millennium standards, the black & white visuals (it was a multi-camera shoot, unusual for its time) and digitally-remastered audio are surprisingly good, and although there are no bonus features, the fact that this is apparently the only known visual document of these particular Jazz Messengers makes Live in '58 a genuine treasure. --Sam Graham

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

From the Director
JAZZ ICONS(tm) is an ongoing DVD series featuring full-length concerts and in-studio performances by the greatest legends of jazz, filmed all over the world from the 1950s through the 1970s. Beautifully transferred from the riginal masters, none of these concerts has ever been officially released on home video, and in many cases, the material was never broadcast. Each DVD is produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates. JAZZ ICONS(tm) comes to you from Reelin' In The Years Productions, GRAMMY Nominated producers of the American Folk Blues Festival DVDs 1962 - 1966.

Customer Reviews

Thank you for this box of dynamite
I have to admit that my expectations were low, when I
placed my order for this DVD. It's 1958, in B&W, and,
after all, these are jazz artists, hardly mainstream,
thus not getting the attention some popular artist would
get. When I hit play, and saw how good the video and
audio were, considering the vintage, I was overjoyed.
This performance of this group, is one of the greatest
I have had the privlege of viewing. To see this group
do Moanin' one month after recording it, well, wow!.
A 20 year old Lee Morgan was great, Benny Golson doing
his I Remeber Clifford, wow!. The whole crew, wow!.
My only regret is, that I didn't buy the boxed sets of
this series. It would have saved me time and money in
the long run. This is my fourth Jazz Icons, I have not
been disappointed. Of course, skepticism of vintage
concerts makes one cautious.

Calling all [A]rt lovers!
I borrowed this DVD from my local library and was really impressed by what I saw. Art and his crew are at the top of their game. It's no exaggeration to say that these guys were some of the greatest performers of the 20th century. Skillful, classy, and with humor, this film really helps you appreciate those qualities in a way that only the combination of sight and sound can. It is a truly special document from the golden age of the original American art form brought to us courtesy of Europe. Jazz films of such exceptional quality (high grade film, multiple camera angles, close ups, etc) from this period are few and far between.

No art (or Art) lover should pass up the chance to see these guys in action.

My first real introduction to Jazz
I had heard jazz CDs from time to time but never really "got it". Until I watched this DVD that is. I picked it up on a whim from NYPL and I was blown away. Now, this is music that I could understand - lots of Blues. Especially the awesome "Moanin'". Thanks Art Blakey, wherever you are.