Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #144780 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-07-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Color, DVD, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.com
With Ken Burns's Jazz having brought the music into our living rooms on a regular basis, it seems a bit less anomalous that jazz shows were once as common on the tube as so-called reality programming is today (OK, maybe not that common). Ralph J. Gleason's Jazz Casual series was one such outlet; Jazz Scene USA, executive produced by Steve Allen and hosted by singer Oscar Brown Jr., was another. The formats were similar: a little talk and a lot of straight-ahead blowing. The perfect setting, then, for alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, who appeared on both shows during their early '60s runs. Dapper and dignified, articulate and affable, Adderley was also arguably the best alto player since Charlie Parker, with a superb band to boot (featuring brother Nat on cornet, Yusef Lateef on tenor sax, flutes, and oboe, and future Weather Report cofounder Joe Zawinul on piano). Playing just four complete tunes here, the sextet covers an extraordinary amount of territory, from the hard bop of Quincy Jones's "Jessica's Birthday" and the African drone of "Primitive" to two popular Nat Adderley tunes, "Jive Samba" (here called "Bossa Nova Nemo") and the blues-drenched "Work Song." A marvelous performance--and the DVD sound is excellent. If "boss tenor" man Teddy Edwards's set of five hard-bop Edwards originals is less scintillating, it's less a reflection on him (au contraire--he and his sextet swing mightily, especially on "Sunset Eyes") than a result of the simple misfortune of having to follow Cannonball to the stand. --Sam Graham

From the Back Cover
Jazz Scene USA's broadcast over nationally syndicated television in 1962 was cause for joy among jazz fans, and acclaimed at the time by most critics as the finest program of its kind. The brainchild of lifelong jazz devotee Steve Allen, the series showcases many of the very best California-based jazz performers, not to mention rare TV appearances by outstanding national acts as well. All are featured without commercial restraints in a relaxed, casual atmosphere created by hipster host, singer Oscar Brown Jr. Uncompromising in its use of imaginative camera angles, the visual style is on par with the creativity of the music. Never available before, these shows are jazz capsules to treasure from America's golden age of televised jazz. 60 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Uncut performances by jazz greats. A must-have.
As-is, this is the original 1962 TV show. This volume features two episodes- Cannonball Adderley's group and Teddy Edward's group. Great music and very creative camera work (which is a complement to the spontaneous music being performed) make this mostly-music DVD a breath of fresh air for those who want to see and hear uncut musical performances. The hipster-host of the show is quite amusing too. I am looking forward to adding future volumes of this series to my DVD collection.

Cannonball's Yusef Lateef band and Great Teddy Edwards
This selection from the Jazz Scene USA series is probably the strongest for pure music. Cannonball has one of his best bands with the great Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute and Joe Zawinul playing at his best. Of more intrest for jazz fans is the Teddy Edwards band. With Freddie Hill, trumpet and Richard Boone, trombone, the band plays nice arrangements of several of Teddy's greatest tunes. It's a rare chance to see this artist at his prime. It relates somewhat to the "Avalon" CD Fantasy released a while ago that still may be obtainable.
The whole series is worth getting for the pure music played as it should be.

It's wonderful to see Cannonball on video!
Every sax student to pro player should see this video...Being a pro and sax teacher for 25+ yrs I know what I'm talking about! Get it! By the way, watch it many times as you will hear & see new things each viewing.