Legends of Jazz

[Bright Moments]

The pilot broadcast of Legends of Jazz will air tonight (6/16/05) in most markets on PBS and throughout July and August. This is the first of 14 programs that will be aired representing the first jazz series on television in nearly 40 years.

Tune in and enjoy. The first episode includes Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jon Hendricks, Paquito D'Rivera and George Wein.

[Hardbopjazz]

Thanks for the information.

[7/4]

Leg ends of Jazz? Famous feet or just socks?

[Christiern]

A program called "Legends of Jazz" whose first episode includes Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jon Hendricks, Paquito D'Rivera and George Wein does not sound promising.

[AllenLowe]

maybe they should call it "rumors about jazz"

[Michael Fitzgerald]

As best as I can tell, this show will NOT be broadcast tonight in the NYC (WNET-TV) area. According to www.thirteen.org it will be broadcast on July 10 and again on July 13. Also found that the Newport Jazz Festival 50th anniversary program will be on July 9.

Mike

[Joe M]

A program called "Legends of Jazz" whose first episode includes Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jon Hendricks, Paquito D'Rivera and George Wein does not sound promising.

←

Yes, it would be much better if this didn't air. I mean we wouldn't want real jazz to be on tv now would we? Chris just probably had some argument with George years ago and can't get over it. I'm sure he'll tell us all about it.

I've seen the show. It's interesting, they tell some good stories, and they actually play some good music.

Edited June 16, 2005 by Joe M

[Christiern]

What an idiotic assumption. George (if it is Wein you have in mind) and I have always gotten along very well, whether it has been over dinner or simply meeting in a business-related situation.

I don't know why certain people always thing that the slightest criticism or apprehension has to be attributable to some sort of personal animosity--I wonder if that mind-set does not tell us more about the person who makes the assumption than about anything else.

I'm used to it, however, for whenever I dare to criticize Wynton (for example), some outraged soul pops in to accuse me of wanting his job, having had a fight with him, or some other such nonsense.

In this case, all I did was express doubt about a program purporting to be about jazz "legends," basing that doubt on a list of artists, some of whom are excellent and to be admired, but none of who IMO qualifies as a "legend."

[7/4]

Shoes?

[Jazz Kat]

As best as I can tell, this show will NOT be broadcast tonight in the NYC (WNET-TV) area. According to www.thirteen.org it will be broadcast on July 10 and again on July 13. Also found that the Newport Jazz Festival 50th anniversary program will be on July 9.

Mike

←

Yes, I just checked 2 seconds ago, and it is not on at all tonight.

[couw]

Shoes?

←

loafers

[Joe M]

What an idiotic assumption. George (if it is Wein you have in mind) and I have always gotten along very well, whether it has been over dinner or simply meeting in a business-related situation.

I don't know why certain people always thing that the slightest criticism or apprehension has to be attributable to some sort of personal animosity--I wonder if that mind-set does not tell us more about the person who makes the assumption than about anything else.

I'm used to it, however, for whenever I dare to criticize Wynton (for example), some outraged soul pops in to accuse me of wanting his job, having had a fight with him, or some other such nonsense.

In this case, all I did was express doubt about a program purporting to be about jazz "legends," basing that doubt on a list of artists, some of whom are excellent and to be admired, but none of who IMO qualifies as a "legend."

←

Well, you seem to have a certain M.O. when talking about certain people in the jazz business on these boards. Not so much musicians, but producers, etc. You must admit that you don't hold back in letting us know about those who you feel did something or said something to you years ago? Since you didn't back up your negative comment in the earlier post, people will infer what they will.

[Christiern]

Well, you seem to have a certain M.O. when talking about certain people in the jazz business on these boards. Not so much musicians, but producers, etc. You must admit that you don't hold back in letting us know about those who you feel did something or said something to you years ago? Since you didn't back up your negative comment in the earlier post, people will infer what they will.

←

I am outspoken, that's true, but your inference that I somehow have it in for people who "did something or said something" to me years ago is pure nonsense. I have--to the chagrin of some--criticized or frankly stated my personal observations re Stanley Crouch, Wynton Marsalis, Phil Schaap, and Orrin Keepnews, but none of these people (all of whom I have had personal contact with) has ever done or said anything to me that is so terrible that I simply feel compelled to demonize them. I get the impression that this is how you want the scenario to run, but I must disappoint you--it's all in your mind and I fail to understand what it is that motivates you to turn a totally non-confrontational thread into an argument.

Finally, I have no idea what "negative comment" you refer to and think I ought to have backed up. If it is my expressed skepticism re this show, I hardly think it can be construed as a negative comment. I don't know why you feel a need to make a big thing out of this, but I strongly suggest that such petty arguments as you here have started serve no purpose.

I will go on to other subjects and I hope you will, too.

[king ubu]

maybe they should call it "rumors about jazz"

←

Yup, the show will include Phil Schaap, Orrin reminiscing about his "complete" reissues, and a certain Mr. Pujol telling his story about finding a rare never before released 1945 Town Hall Dizzy/Bird concert at the market in Cordoba...

[Michael Fitzgerald]

OK, so did anyone get to watch this thing?

Mike

[Kalo]

I guess the title "Journeypeople of Jazz" didn't focus-group too well.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I happened upon this, about halfway through, on New Jersey Network tonight. Saw some of the Paquito, all of the Wein, and then a young singer Renee Olmstead (apparently she is a TV star on CBS and she's a sophomore in high school). She sang OK, absolutely nothing special, then got all gushy about being in the presence of legends. I guess I have a bit of a problem with a high school sophomore singing "Taking A Chance On Love", having taught high school. It just isn't convincing to me.

They tried to present the idea of getting youth into jazz, but a panel of old folks (and sorry, these aren't the biggest names just the ones who have stuck around instead of dying) with no audience - hmmm. Why not a live setting? Paquito played clarinet in a duet with electric bass, definitely rehearsed, but not any tune familiar to me and I am pretty sure no first-time viewer would take much away from that choice - nothing memorable. Where were the subtitles giving title, composer, names of musicians, etc. I mean, even MTV has those bookend credits.

The stories I heard were fine, mostly standard things, Wein on the NJF, some stories about Billie and Pres, etc. The final question "Where is jazz going?" - Oh my god, are we still asking that one? No one was all that inspired to answer it. It's a stupid question.

At the close, they played together (Wein didn't play, unfortunately), which could have been a good thing. Unfortunately, it was under the credits, and ended up being only something like 4 choruses total on the blues. Very sloppy and not all that inspiring.

I'll try to catch a rerun to see the whole thing. I'm still surprised that no one has anything to say about this. Buehler?

Mike

[Jim R]

A program called "Legends of Jazz" whose first episode includes Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jon Hendricks, Paquito D'Rivera and George Wein does not sound promising.

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I understand the point being made, but it seems unfortunate to me that Moody and Hendricks kind of (indirectly) get slighted in the process (the uninformed might get the wrong impression, IMO). I mean, to me it wouldn't be a big stretch to use the term "legends" when referrng to them. Anyway, to see either or both of those men getting some air time is a very good thing, and promising- if we can hope to see others of their stature (and Chris, I don't mean to suggest that you wouldn't agree with that).

So far, I've seen no mention of any of this from our three local PBS affiliates. Maybe they'll get to it soon, in lieu of the 547th running of Andre Rieu In Concert. At least the memory of Riverdance is beginning to fade somewhat.

[CJ Shearn]

I saw the program last month on our local PBS affiliate. I'm just glad jazz is on TV, I thought it was entertaining. Hendricks had the spirit, but man is his voice shot now.

[Jazz Kat]

Doesn't it air on Sunday for us Eastern folks?

[Christiern]

I am finally watching this show. So far, only one performance: Nancy Wilson singing "God Bless the Child," accompanied by Ramsey Lewis.

It was painful to listen to--one of the worst vocal performances I have ever heard from an established artist. I mean, it was horrible!

Anyone else hear this--please comment.

Now Moody is on--what a difference!

Heard some more...

Jon Hendricks was ok, but his aged voice does not really lend itself to the style, IMO.

Paquito was good, as I expected him to be.

George Wein should have played something, but he gave a good interview.

The new singer, René Olstead (sp?) was quite good, but she didn't send shivers down my spine.

Ramsey is always fine, but he was more in the role of accompanist here.

All in all, I still think "legends" is a bit of a stretch and the show was unremarkable. Nancy Wilson did not do her career any good with her truly awful performance, and before Joe M dreams up some story about a feud between me and Wilson, let me say that I have never met her, never spoken to her over the phone, and--as I recall--never given her a bad review.

Edited July 10, 2005 by Christiern

[Christiern]

Mike, you did not comment on Nancy Wilson--I'm curious to hear if she sounded as painfully embarrassing to you as she did to me. BTW, I think you summed up the show perfectly.

I know that we should all be grateful when TV turns to jazz, but when they do it with as little thought as went into this show, perhaps an hour of something else might be preferable. This would have been a better show if it had been reduced to a half hour and trimmed by someone with a good pair of ears.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Lucky me, I've now missed hearing her twice! She's never been a particular favorite and what I've heard by her recently is pretty bad, almost a caricature. I also don't like her as a speaker. I listened to her talk for quite a while at IAJE a couple years ago. There's just something "fake" about her delivery. Ditto for her stuff reading the scripts on the radio show Jazz Profiles.

My impression of Moody and Hendricks was that these guys are getting a bit over the hill. Rhythmically, both were scuffling a bit with executing lines at the tempo (Woody'n You for Moody, Rhythm-a-ning for Hendricks). Those guys were perfectly in sync with each other, ideologically. Paquito seemed odd man out, and he didn't have to be because he could fit right in with them in the Dizzy Gillespie sphere. That a newcomer would think that Paquito only plays clarinet is kind of weird (he talked a whole lot about Benny Goodman too). And thinking about that, someone new to jazz wouldn't know Dizzy, Benny, Pres, Billie, Miles, and any others who were mentioned in passing. I mean, as Jackie McLean said in that other show, the folks in Harlem know Kenny G but they don't know Charlie Parker. So some reference footage or at least some photos would be helpful in educating the jazz audience.

What I would have done (with my vast TV production experience and unlimited bankroll) would be to do a show with Moody, Hendricks, plus Manhattan Transfer and Bobby McFerrin and some fairly young, fairly good looking singer for the young crowd - I guess even McFerrin isn't hip enough anymore. Then show folks some real vocalese with Moody singing his Mood, some burners like Cloudburst or Everybody's Boppin', etc. Some archival footage would be good too. Jon Hendricks can be a real crowd pleaser and has so many good stories to tell (sometimes he goes on too much!) - this show didn't make use of his great potential.

Five guests (plus a participant host) in an hour with one of them not even playing is too much. And keeping folks separated except for the very end was a bad idea, I thought. I liked when they talked about Lambert Hendricks and Ross and others like Wilson and Wein gave some input. The five seemed more like friends at that moment rather than just individual guests who happen to be on the same show.

Mike

[Christiern]

Thanks, Mike. Although you missed this particular performance, you description of Wilson tells me that it would not have surprised you. "Charicature" is an apt way to put it. Like you, I never had any enthusiasm for Wilson, even when she was at her best, but I also never saw her as a jazz singer. I know that's a blurry distinction, but compared to, let's say Sarah and Billie.

BTW I'm still trying to have Roadrunner get their act together, but I will probably have to switch to another ISP. Miss the list a lot.

[Jazz Kat]

For me, Jon Hendrix's preformance was the worst. You could tell the master was aging.