Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97719 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-01-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Compilation, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 30 minutes

Amazon.com
On October 17, 1961, the popular and pioneering pianist-composer Dave Brubeck performed on Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual, the television show that showcased some of the finest jazz artists in a half-hour of no-frills performance and conversation. Backed by the Lester Young-influenced alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello, Brubeck and his combo perform some of their odd-metered hits. Desmond's dancing ditty, "Take Five" is rendered in a faster tempo than the studio version. Brubeck's ragtime-flavored "(It's a) Raggy Waltz," highlights his percussive piano lines, while "Castillian Blues" and the Turkish strains of "Blue Rondo a la Turk" reveal his multicultural, compositional genius. Gleason, the show's creator and host, was a well-respected, San Francisco-based jazz critic and author. He remarks during the show that Dave Brubeck was "a provocative, experimental, and interesting musician." That statement is still true today. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews

A wonderful, terrible tease
I am a HUGE DBQ fan. I have been to dozens of concerts, own everything they've published, even studied with Joe Morello. The only reason you would want to buy this curious DVD is to see what they looked like in black and white in 1962 ... and remind yourself how lousy TV production was in those days. This cheesy production used 2 cameras (4 is more typical today) on clumsy pedestals that got pushed....no, bullied... around the floor as they go from Desmond to Brubeck. (Paul has to get out of the way on one such "smooth" move.)

Much of the coverage is a 3-shot, leaving out Morello, frustrating anyone who wants to see that genius. There are a few mikes around the studio and they are often "opened" late, causing some of Desmond's work to be heard only from a distant mike by Dave's piano. Blue Rondo is cut off about a minute in so the host can say goodbye. A very rough cut brings us back to the group, only to fade out for good after the 9/8 intro settles in to the 4/4 heart of the song. Dave's playing is brilliant and we see it for all of its glory. But he spends far too much time TALKING instead of playing.

Joe provides a couple of good (frankly, not great -- no cross sticking, high hat or up close work that would later define his genius) 5/4 solos on Take 5 and Castilian Blues. He uses two cymbals on stands... hadn't quite evolved to his classic set with a 20" bass-mounted ride, 18 and 16" crashes. He's on a lousy riser and his set jiggles like Jell-o the whole show.

So if you want to hear great playing, this ain't it. Want to take a bumpy ride down memory lane for about 25 min? Then that's what you're getting. Nothing more.

Worth the Money
After finally purchasing a video of my favorite jazz group I was satisfied...and yet disappointed. The group performed as well as ever but the quality of sound was so bad...but then it was forty years ago!!! Both Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond play interesting solos - Paul especially is excellent on Take Five and Dave gets in to some typical time changes in Its A Raggy Waltz. Didn't care at all for Ralph Gleason and was pleased he didn't waste any more interviewing. Poor Dave Brubeck seemed strained, or nervous, as he introduced the various pieces by the group. But I would pay the money again to watch the group that has given so many hours of pleasure over the past five decades.

A jaw-dropping classic.
This edition of Jazz Casual is one of my three favorite, the others being Coltrane and Dizzy. Although Brubeck achieved some measure of popularity with the hit, "Take Five" in the 60's, his innovation and creativity never faltered.
I first saw this video at a friend's house, and I found myself either staring open mouthed or laughing uncontrollably at the sheer MADNESS of Dave's playing, not to mention Desmonds. "Time Out" became not only a song, but a concept. Brubeck uses time signature like no one ever has, playing different time signatures than his rhythm section, and even playing different time signatures with his left hand than he does with his right. It's pure brilliance. This video is totally worth the money.