Jazz Shots From The WEST Coast Vol.3

As with Vol. 2 in this series, the information on the back cover of this DVD is for the Jazz Shots from the East Coast, Vol. 3 disc in this series. Thus, if you got the wrong packaging, well, the information is on the actual disc so go there. The Dave Brubeck Quartet start off the fun with Paul Desmond from Vol. 2 back again, and they give us "Take Five," "Castilian Blues" and "(It's a) Raggy Waltz" followed by the Jimmy Giuffre 3 featuring Jim Hall on "The Train and the River." Bill Holman arranges Ernesto Lecuona's "Malaguea" for Stan Kenton. It's a majestic symphony of horns which blend perfectly over the beat. The filming is beautiful, especially on Dee Barton's "Waltz of the Prophets" with the TV lights shining off the brass. Barton arranged the piece as well. Johnny Richards arranges Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "Maria" while Bill Holman is back to arrange "Limehouse Blues." "Valse Hot" is performed by Jim Hall while Hampton Hawes' four piece get the only color footage here with a nice instrumental of the Ned Washington/Victor Young classic "Stella by Starlight" while the Frank Rosolino Quartet perform the Jimmy Davis/Roger "Ram" Ramirez/Jimmy Sherman tune, "Lover Man," Monk's "Well You Needn't," and the Harbach & Kern composition "Yesterdays," with Mike Melvoin on piano. It's all great stuff, but don't expect any scholarly liner notes or bonus features. It's just the music authored simply to DVD to be enjoyed as is. ~ Joe Viglione|