Jazz Masters Series – Red Norvo

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Main Program: B-

 

 

Red Norvo was a great and important Jazz musician, playing xylophone, vibraphone and even the marimba with an excitement and knack that helped make their sound essential to the genre.  He was so essential that he was part of the Jazz At The Smithsonian program and this DVD installment of the Jazz Masters Series was taped November 27, 1981.  The program offered:

 

1)     All Of Me

2)     Jitterbug Waltz

3)     Cheek To Cheek

4)     Fascinating Rhythm

5)     When You’re Smiling

6)     School Days/Teach Me Tonight (Mavis Rivers joins in on vocal from here)

7)     The Wave

8)     Just Friends

9)     Pennies From Heaven

 

 

The program is good and the guest vocalist and musicians are fine, but Norvo is so good on his own that you’ll wish there was more of him in focus and the interview with him could have went on for a while longer as well.  The usual analog NTSC-shot 1.33 X 1 image and Dolby Digital 2.0 sound that is simple stereo at best is the peak of the performance of the DVD, but Norvo’s performance is supreme and after this disc, someone needs to unearth more great film and video-captured work on this neglected artist.  Let’s hope this DVD is a big hit.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo