Stars Of Jazz – Miles Davis: The Cool Jazz Sound (TV)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Concert: C+

 

 

The Robert Herridge Theater was a CBS-TV series in the 1950s showcasing music talent, jazz in this case.  This 1959 installment features Miles Davis and is the subject of this Stars Of Jazz installment on DVD.  Directed by TV veteran Jack Smight, the show runs just over 25 minutes and was made at the time Davis released his album Miles Ahead.  Joined by a raft of remarkable musicians that includes John Coltrane, the four extended tracks are:

 

1)     So What

2)     The Duke

3)     Blues For Pablo

4)     New Rhumba

 

 

As we have seen literally dozens of times on this site alone, Jazz musicians did not always get the respect or top-flight treatment they deserved when it came to their performances being captured on film or tape, but this is on of those serious music shows that respected the musicians and the music, the kind you do not see today despite at least a dozen channels devoted to music exclusively.  There is certainly something wrong with that, which is all the more reason to celebrate this short-but-important release.

 

The full frame 1.33 x 1 image is off of black and white videotape, if a generation down.  The greenish tone shows a further problem with the transfer, but who knows how well the visual part of the material holds up.   The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono fares a bit better, but all show their age.  The only extra is a text page on the performers, but at least the price is right and this is part of a series, so if you like it, there are others to order.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo