Dizzy Gillespie: A Night In Tunisia

Dizzy Gillespie: A Night in Tunisia is a disappointing mix of grainy documentary and filmed concert. Beginning with Gillespie and band in rehearsal- a rather self-indulgent exercise in individual playing, characteristic of quite a bit of modern jazz-Gillespie talks about the period of "be bop," when he composed the legendary "A Night in Tunisia." Gillespie's explanation is a series of piano riffs, interposed with comments: "And then this," "You see?" "Follow me?" No Dizzy, we don't. It would be like Herman Melville explaining Moby Dick in this fashion: "Well it's like "Call me Ishmael," you know? "The last half of the tape is a performance of "A Night in Tunisia." The Moscow Sax Quintet: The Jazznost Tour, on the other hand is an enjoyable concert by a lot of guys with the first name of Vladimir doing covers of American jazz classics: Glenn Miller's "In the Mood," Charlie Parker's "Parker's Mood," and Ella Fitzgerald's "Smooth Sailing" (a Russian female lead gives a game effort at replicating Ella's scat, but it just doesn't work.) There are also some wonderful wildcard selections, such as "Your Eyes," by an Estonian composer; "Waltz for Debbie," an original composition; and The Beatles' "Michelle." A good time, in beautiful Hi-Fi Stereo sound. The Dizzy Gillespie tape is not a necessary purchase; The Moscow Sax Quintet's effort is recommended. (Available from: V.LE.W. Video, 34 East 23rd St., New York, NY; 1-800843-9843; in NY, 212-674-5550.)