Product Description

Jazz Icons: Dave Brubeck boasts two beautifully filmed concerts from one of the most beloved quartets in jazz history. Captured at the pinnacle of their power and popularity, Paul Desmond (alto sax), Joe Morello (drums), Eugene Wright (bass) and Dave Brubeck (piano) explore the trails they blazed into the realm of odd time signatures with "Forty Days" and two versions of their groundbreaking hit "Take Five", as well as forays into world music with two unique interpretations of "Koto Song". Their intimate onstage chemistry and impeccable musicianship made the DBQ an award-winning jazz supergroup.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39523 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-04
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Best of, Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 67 minutes

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

Newsday.com, October 14, 2007, Gene Seymour
Jazz Icons represents the new millennium's most welcome shot in the arm for the music's soul

Customer Reviews

Wonderful, Wonderful European TV
First of all, the music - this is really excellent playing by the "Classic Quartet" of Brubeck, Desmond, Gene Wright and Joe Morello. They were at the top of their game as a group at this time and obviously enjoying themselves and the ways they could think up to interact creatively on admittedly familiar material. Brubeck is often under-rated as a pianist, but he is fascinating here, bold and percussive on one tune, delicate on others. Also frequently under-valued is Morello, but he could swing in all meters and contributes some excellent solo work.

A special treat is the video quality. Anyone who owns any of the first set of Jazz Icons DVDs will expect the clarity of late Fifties through 1970 European TV. After all, their technology was a decade "behind" ours; in other words, newer and better. What's great about these two concerts (especially the first) is the manner in which the cameras are used. In particular, the studio camera-persons and director in Belgium are every bit as artful as Gjon Mili was in his work with Norman Granz' cats in the 1940s. The German concert has a live audience and more straight-forward camera angles, but only pales by comparison with the first concert - it's still clear, often imaginative work.

Highly recommended, especially if you are NOT necessarily a big Brubeck Quartet fan. You'll likely convert.

Classic Quartet in solid form.
The DVD features two shorter sets of the Quartet. There is some overlap of material between the two sets, but differences in treatment keep the selections from seeming repetitive.

The DVD comes with an adequate booklet, but little detail about the concerts from which the footage is taken (hardly surprising, given the sheer number of performances by the Quartet). The DVD has very little to offer for extras, other than the simple main menu. I believe this is the norm for the series, however.

While it would have been nice to have more background on the performances, or more extras, this DVD is absolutely a must for fans of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Watching (as opposed to being limited to simply listening to) the byplay among the players is fascinating and worth every penny. This is especially true given the relatively modest cost of the DVD.

Brubeck '64 and '67
I am a Brubeck connoiseur and have most of any available recordings. This video was a real surprise and better than I had hoped for. The black and white film has been done carefully if a little static, and the soundtrack is remarkably good. The Quartet is at their height and it's a blast to watch them play. It would be great if another such film turned up. Also, there must be other live concert recordings in existence which I would love to own.