The 5th Series of Jazz Icons DVD Releases to be Avail in Nov. | Feat. John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard & More!

The upcoming releases can be ordered now from Mosaic (www.mosaicrecords.com) which will start shipping sets on November 1. Reelin’ In The Years President David Peck who started the series five years ago noted, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Mosaic for the fifth Jazz Icons Series. Jazz Icons releases are noted for the artistry they reflect as well as stunning audio and video quality. The same can be said for Mosaic’s work over the years, underscoring just how appropriate this alliance is for us. The brilliance of these performances makes them a must for any serious jazz collector and Mosaic has long been a destination for those same serious collectors.” The new series brings to 36 the total number of titles released under the Jazz Icons banner.

The new series features brilliant full-length concert performances from a virtual pantheon of mid-century jazz legends. Each of the releases was painstakingly transferred from the original master and each feature rare performances that have never been officially released on home video, some of which were never broadcast. Each DVD was produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates and includes a 12-page booklet with an essay written by an authoritative jazz historian as well as rare and unseen photos.

The six releases that comprise Jazz Icons Series 5 are the result of a new alliance between Reelin’ In The Years Productions and France’s Ina (Institut National de l’Audiovisuel, www.ina.fr), one of Europe’s most important footage archives. RITY projects that Ina’s vast, well-documented, archive will be the source of music footage for many more projects of this caliber going forward.

The set’s component titles include John Coltrane – Live In France 1965, filmed at the Antibes Jazz Festival on July 26th and 27th of that year. Coltrane’s quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones was at the peak of its powers when they performed “A Love Supreme,” the first and only public performance of the masterpiece. The DVD opens with “Naima,” a searingly intense “Ascension” and “Impressions,” while the only surviving footage from A Love Supreme suite close out this historic 52-minute film. Liner notes are by David Liebman, National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Masters Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers – Live In France 1959 was shot at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and is notable for the fact that it marked the debut of two new members of the group: Wayne Shorter, tenor sax, whose sound and conception would forever change the sonic landscape of the band and Walter Davis Jr., who had as much drive on the piano as Blakey had on his drums. The band featured Lee Morgan on trumpet and Jymie Merritt on bass all of whom are absolutely on fire throughout this 83-minute concert. Bob Blumental’s insightful liner notes are included.

Thelonious Monk- Live In France 1969 was filmed at ORTF TV Studio in Paris in December and spotlights one of the most compelling performances of Monk’s career. Just Monk, a grand piano and two cameras — no audience, no sidemen, no emcee, no clock-watching stage manager, no set list, no distractions for 65 minutes of pure musical genius The result was an astonishingly intimate and revealing portrait of a man and his music. Monk sits at the piano and plays whatever occurs to him. In this case, it was nine originals and two of his favorite standards. The freedom of playing unaccompanied allows Monk to give each composition fascinating new twists and variations. The viewer can virtually see his mind at work. Liner notes are by pianist/composer Ethan Iverson of The Bad Plus.

Johnny Griffin – Live In France 1971 includes both a live performance by the tenor virtuoso at Jazz Festival de Châteauvallon on August 29, 1971 as well as a TV studio concert shot in Châteauvallon a few weeks earlier. Griffin’s quartet — Art Taylor, drums, Vince Benedetti, piano, and Alby Culliaz on bass — is joined on stage by guest artist Dizzy Gillespie on “Hot House” and “A Night In Tunisia” with the rest of the set devoted to bebop classics and four of Griffin’s best known originals. René Urtreger was the pianist for the TV portion of the program. Trumpeter, publisher and educator Don Sickler wrote the liner notes for the release.

Freddie Hubbard – Live In France 1973 documents the March day when the incendiary trumpet master took his group — Junior Cook on sax and flute, George Cables on piano, Kent Brinkley, bass and drummer Michael Carvin — to ORTF TV Studio in Paris and knocked out a powerful set of his greatest compositions of the period: “Straight Life,” “Intrepid Fox” and “First Light.” In contrast to the highly produced albums Hubbard release on the CTI label in that era, he performed that same repertoire a more direct, straight-ahead jazz style. Liner notes are by veteran jazz writer Neil Tesser.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Live In France 1972 is a 73-minute concert at the Grand Palais in Paris performed on March 8, 1972. With excellent support from his Vibration Society (Ron Burton, Henry Pearson, Richie Goldberg and Joe Texidor), this concert is a perfect example of Kirk’s unique genius. It features classics from Coltrane to Ellington and ends poignantly with two of Kirk’s most celebrated and powerful compositions: “Volunteered Slavery” and “The Inflated Tear.” Often playing two and three reed instruments simultaneously with amazing skill, he was a living encyclopedia of jazz and an ever-thinking force of energy who swept the audience up into his orbit. Kirk biographer John Kruth wrote the scholarly and insightful notes that are included.

JAZZ ICONS SERIES 5 tracklisting:

John Coltrane – Live In France 1965

Naima
Ascension
Impressions
A Love Supreme Suite Pt 1. – Acknowledgement
A Love Supreme Suite Pt 2. – Resolution (partial track)

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers- Live In France 1959

Are You Real?
What Know (Goldie)
No Problem
Bouncing With Bud
Close Your Eyes
Along Came Betty
Blues March
A Night In Tunisia

     Bonus: Interview/Nellie Bly (aka Mama G)

Thelonious Monk- Live In France 1969

Dreamland
Monk’s Mood (Version 1)
Thelonious
Reflections
Epistrophy
’Round Midnight
Crepuscule With Nellie
Ugly Beauty
Monk’s Mood (Version 2)
Don’t Blame Me
Coming On The Hudson
Nice Work If You Can Get It

     Bonus: Thelonious rehearsal, B-Roll, raw interview

Johnny Griffin – Live In France 1971

Blues For Harvey
When We Were One
The JAMFs Are Coming
Soft And Furry
A Night In Tunisia (w/Dizzy)
Hot House (w/Dizzy)

Part Two

Now’s The Time
My Little Suede Shoes
Blue Monk
Blues For Harvey

Freddie Hubbard – Live In France 1973

Straight Life
Intrepid Fox
First Light

Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Live In France 1972

Blue Train
Lester Leaps In
Satin Doll (Medley)
For Bechet And Ellington And Bigard and Carney And Rabbit
My Cherie Amour
One Mind Winter/Summer (Seasons)
Groovin’ High
Soul Eyes
Volunteered Slavery
Inflated Tear

Reelin’ In the Years has produced some of the most highly regarded anthology DVD series in music history including the four-volume, GRAMMY-nominated American Folk Blues Festival series, the multi-platinum selling Definitive Motown series (Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), The British Invasion series (featuring the new Hollies- Look Through Any Window 1963-1975), Ray Charles- Live In France 1961 and the award-winning Jazz Icons series, now at 36 titles. For more information on please visit www.reelinintheyears.com and www.jazzicons.com.