Paul Desmond
An extraordinary collection of clips in all jazz genres from the most beautiful concerts and the most special festivals, performed by the finest jazz musicians.
An extraordinary collection of clips in all jazz genres from the most beautiful concerts and the most special festivals, performed by the finest jazz musicians.
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'Münchner Klaviersommer' was an annual concerts series that took place from 1981 to 1998 in Munich, Germany. Although the festival's name suggests a strong focus on piano music, it featured countless famous musicians from jazz and classical music – not just pianists. The concerts were usually held in July at The Gasteig, home of the Munich Philharmonic. In 1993, American guitarist Al Di Meola was one of the artists appearing here. With second guitarist Chris Carrington and percussionist Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Meola performs the now-classic world-fusion repertoire from his album 'World Sinfonia', which was originally released in 1991.
Since 1960, the legendary saxophonist Charles Lloyd has lent his adventurous, lyrical sound to collaborations with likes of Cannonball Adderley, Keith Jarrett and The Beach Boys. His early and highly successful experiments blending jazz and rock music charted a path that led to the electric fusion of Miles Davis and The Headhunters, while his exploration of spirituality and transcendental meditation added a new depth to his sound. Lloyd moves from hard swing to subtle ballads, blending gorgeous textures and Eastern influences. This 1966 recording features Lloyd's quartet, accompanied by Keith Jarrett (piano), Cecil McBee (double bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums), playing some of Lloyd's own compositions.
Pianist Kenny Barron's June 27, 2019 appearance at the Alfa Jazz Festival in Ukraine's Lviv was a celebration of sublime jazz virtuosity. The revered elder statesmen of jazz piano brought his regular working trio of Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and Jonathan Blake (drums), augmented by stellar jazzman Marcus Strickland (tenor saxophone) and young lion Riley Mulherkar (trumpet). Their seamless blend of classic bebop and modern explorations spoke of a deep, emotive connection to each note, captivating the Ukrainian audience with lyrical improvisations during this unforgettable concert.
Following a highly successful small-group jazz concert at New York Town Hall on May 17, 1947, Armstrong's manager Joe Glaser dissolved the Armstrong big band on August 13, 1947 and established a six-piece small group. This group was called the All Stars, and in 1964 Louis Armstrong recorded his biggest-selling record, Hello, Dolly! He made assorted television appearances, especially in the 1950s and 1960s – the recorded film was a TV Show in Australia when Armstrong was at the peak of his career. Armstrong kept up his busy tour schedule until a few years before his death in 1971. He also toured Africa, Europe, and Asia under sponsorship of the US State Department with great success, earning the nickname ‘Ambassador Satch'.
An extraordinary collection of clips in all jazz genres from the most beautiful concerts and the most special festivals, performed by the finest jazz musicians.
This broadcast shows a rare appearance at the 1996 Germeringer Jazztage by the legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and his sextet. Some may question the inclusion of a flamenco guitarist within a jazz festival. However, the similarities between flamenco and blues have been well documented: both are the outlet for a poor, disenfranchised minority, with a primitive strength, boundless capabilities for improvisation and a requirement for breathtaking virtuosity - all qualities shown by Paco de Lucía in this performance. Moreover, he has long been experimenting with jazz forms (evident even from his inclusion of bass, drums, and saxophone in his sextet), while still retaining the essence of the flamenco tradition. In his own words: “What I have tried to do is have a hand holding onto tradition and the other scratching, digging in other places trying to find new things I can bring into flamenco”.
Dionne Warwick's vocal artistry ranges from voluminous deep register to soft, fragile high notes. She masters the entire range with almost unnerving ease. But more than her strong, warm voice, Dionne's magic is in the silky elegance and the secure delivery with which she tells a story. That's how her, along with composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David become pioneers of the brand of pop music called “Middle of the Road”, meaning pop that is grippingly simple, but never trite. Sixty of her hits made it into the American charts and sold over 100 million albums worldwide. This amazing 1964 recording from the 27 Club in Knokke, Belgium showcases the 23-year-old star vocalist at the start of her career.
Winner of five Grammys in four consecutive years, including the Grammy for best R&B album in 2017, Lalah Hathaway is a force impossible to ignore. The American artist has shared the scene with Prince, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Frank Ocean and many others, an irrefutable proof of her keen musical sense and enormous talent. With a 26-year career, Hathaway is still highly sought after by the biggest names in music. See her transform the 2018 Sing Jazz festival scene into a real R&B club, where she flaunts her voice and stage presence out of the ordinary.
The Newport Jazz Festival, first established in the North-American town of Newport, Rhode Island in the summer of 1954, has now grown to become one of the largest multi-day celebrations of jazz worldwide. It has resulted in numerous famous live albums from top-rate jazz stars, and has spawned several worldwide tours, including editions of the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In 1968, the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam welcomed three talented Americans: pianist Horace Silver, guitarist Muddy Waters, and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, alongside their bands.
In 1960, Archie Shepp attended a concert of John Coltrane at the Five Spot, legendary club of the Lower East Side. Fascinated, he quickly decided to devote himself to the tenor saxophone. Five years later, Shepp - already a staple of free jazz - finally recorded alongside his idol. The result, published in 1966, is called Ascension and still remains today a symbol of free improvisation. At the edge of the fiftieth anniversary of Coltrane's death, gone at forty, the most Parisian of the New York avant-garde celebrates the legacy of the great composer of A Love Supreme with a dazzling French-American all-star who is reminiscent in some respects of the heretic Ascension orchestra. When a giant pays tribute to a god of jazz...
Dionne Warwick's vocal artistry ranges from voluminous deep register to soft, fragile high notes. She masters the entire range with almost unnerving ease. But more than her strong, warm voice, Dionne's magic is in the silky elegance and the secure delivery with which she tells a story. That's how her, along with composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David become pioneers of the brand of pop music called “Middle of the Road”, meaning pop that is grippingly simple, but never trite. Sixty of her hits made it into the American charts and sold over 100 million albums worldwide. This amazing 1964 recording from the 27 Club in Knokke, Belgium showcases the 23-year-old star vocalist at the start of her career.
This selection of unforgettable performances by some of the most iconic and influential jazz guitarists in history showcases these legends' unique essence. Revel in Wes Montgomery's virtuosity as he performs the captivating “Nica's Dream” in Holland in 1965, and delight in the expressive beauty of his rendition of “Here's That Rainy Day”, recorded in London in that same year. Experience the timeless appeal of Joe Pass's “You Stepped Out of a Dream” and “You Turned The Tables on Me”, recorded live in Hanover in 1975. The interplay between Jim Hall and Atilla Zoller borders on the impossible as they perform “Extensions” in Hanover in 1973. Enjoy Jim Hall's lyrical solo performance of “I'm Getting Sentimental Over You” from 1964. Witness Sonny Sharrock's avant-garde fusion of jazz and rock in an exhilarating performance of “Peanut", recorded live in France in 1970. Sharrock is joined by flutist Herbie Mann in a soulful performance of “Memphis Underground” from 1969. Immerse yourself in the magic of jazz guitar!
'Münchner Klaviersommer' was an annual concerts series that took place from 1981 to 1998 in Munich, Germany. Although the festival's name suggests a strong focus on piano music, it featured countless famous musicians from jazz and classical music – not just pianists. The concerts were usually held in July at The Gasteig, home of the Munich Philharmonic. In 1995, vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Makoto Ozone, both great jazz players noted for their virtuoso technique and innovative style, came together to give a concert of improvised music. They delighted the audience with their fluid, poetic artistry, which was expressed in a performance of the highest order.
They are three siblings, born in Israel, passed through New York, each leading brilliant careers. The youngest, Avishai, has established himself as one of the most original trumpet players of the moment, author of highly acclaimed albums on the ECM label. The second youngest, Anat, saxophonist and clarinetist, in love with Brazilian music and Benny Goodman, is one of the great "jazzwomen" of today. Less visible, but no less active, the elder Yuval, who plays soprano sax, is one of the most respected musicians in Israeli jazz. Under the name "Three Cohens", they periodically get together for the pleasure of swinging together, as they did as teenagers.
Legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés brought his band ‘Jazz Batá 2' to the Malta Jazz Festival on July 19, 2019. The air was thick with anticipation as Valdés took to the stage, revisiting the small-group concept of his mythical 1972 Cuban album ‘Jazz Batá'. The batá repertoire – the deep classical music of West Africa – permeates Valdés' piano solos throughout the concert. Valdés's band consists of Dreiser Durruthy (Batas and vocals), Yaroldy Abreu (percussions and vocals), Abraham Mansfarroll (percussion), Ramón Vazquez Martirena-Bajo (bass guitar). They delivered a performance that reverberated through the historic island.
An extraordinary collection of clips in all jazz genres from the most beautiful concerts and the most special festivals, performed by the finest jazz musicians.
Brazilian artist Gilberto Gil returns to Jazz à Vienne in France with a new round of singing that is inspired by his latest album ‘Fé na Festa': a mixture of celebration, tradition and even some rock now and then. Gilberto Gil, worldwide known for as musician and the Brazilian minister of Culture, was one of the pioneers of the cultural movement ‘tropicalismo'. This movement, with a strong character of social protest, combines elements of traditional Brazilian culture with modern art forms. Gilberto Gil's new sound clearly has its roots in Brazilian culture, yet it is always inspired by jazz.
Ron Carter, Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Chambers are legends of Blue Note Records. They have established themselves as forward-thinking and inventive band leaders, composers and studio musicians, astonishing audiences around the world with their creativity and technical versatility.
Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday tells us the story of one of jazz's greatest singers ever. Although Billie Holiday lived a life filled with tragedy, this documentary focuses more on her achievements as a singer and her exceptional ability to convey emotions through her voice, rather than going into detail about her drug and alcohol addictions and destructive relationships. Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday features several brilliant performances of Billie Holiday. Colleagues such as Carmen McRae, Annie Ross, Mal Waldron, Buck Clayton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and Milt Gabler offer their first-hand perspectives.
American trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) was a pioneering jazz musician from the late 1940s to the late 1980s. His influence on 20th century music is hard to overstate, as he trailblazed bebop, cool jazz, hardbop, modal jazz, and electronic music. On October 11, 1964, Miles Davis performed at Teatro Dell'Arte in Milan. With tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams, Davis performed Autumn Leaves, My Funny Valentine, All Blues, All of You, and Joshua.
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