Bobby & The Midnites; Grover Washington, Jr. In Concert

In Bobby & The Midnites, Bob Weir, of The Grateful Dead fame, assumes lead guitar duties in this filmed concert of Weir's spinoff jazz rock group performing in concert in Switzerland in 1984. Backing up Weir are jazz notables Billy Cobham, Bobby Cochran, Dave Garland, and Alphonso Johnson. Opening with a Weir original called "Festival," the band follows with a tired, undistinguished cover of "Youngblood," and vacillates between the trite and the listenable over the remaining eight songs. "Me Without You" and "Bahamas Mama," both written by Al Johnson are the standout cuts in a fairly routine package. Grover Washington, Jr. In Concert recorded in 1981 in Philadelphia features the legendary saxman backed by a plethora of jazz greats, including Richard Tee, Eric Gale, Steve Gadd, and Ralph MacDonald. Highlights include: "Let It Flow," Washington's tribute to his friend, basketball star Julius "Dr. J" Erving; "Make Me a Memory," a beautiful musical ode written for his wife; and the hits "Just the Two of Us" and "Mister Magic." Although the blurb from Billboard on the back of the box claims that "this is no run-of-the-mill concert footage," the concert is over a decade old, and for today's audience, run-of-the-mill is a pretty accurate description of what's on view here. Fortunately, the music helps to elevate the production. Bobby & The Midnites is not a necessary purchase. Grover Washington, Jr. In Concert is recommended. (Available from: V.I.E.W. Video, 34 East 23 Street, New York, NY 10010.)