Jazz Legends in Concert

The musicians appearing here may be legends, but when this concert at the International Jazz Hall of Fame in Tampa, FL, was recorded in 1993, more than a few were in their 70s and 80s. So while the spirit may have been willing, the flesh was a bit weak for Steve Allen (a decent pianist who hardly qualifies as a jazz musician, let alone a “legend”), vocalists Cab Calloway, Joe Williams, and Rosemary Clooney, trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, pianist Dorothy Donegan, and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, among others. No one seems to mind, however; even pushing 90, Calloway stills bring life to the inevitable “Minnie the Moocher,” while Della Reese is sassy on “Come Rain or Come Shine,” Donegan plays some amusing boogie-woogie, the Count Basie Orchestra (minus the titular leader, who died in 1984) is swingin', and Wynton Marsalis bolsters Edison on an entertaining version of the Basie standard “Shiny Stockings.” But the DVD presentation is fairly shoddy—no liner notes, questionable editing (Williams is less than 90 seconds into a lively rendition of “I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water” when the next track begins), and substandard video quality. And then there's the egregious Michael Bolton, who bulls his way through “Georgia on My Mind” while, inexplicably, Ray Charles, who essentially trademarked the tune, sits nearby, pretending to groove. DVD extras include performances by Williams and Marian McPartland. An optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)