Search - Miles Davis: The Cool Jazz Sound on DVD

Classic Miles T.V. performance.Near-complete presentation.

Philip A.Cohen | Bay Harbor Islands, Florida United States | 01/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having owned this film on 1980's Japanese Laserdisc,I was eager to see how it would fare on DVD.The program is a 1959 kinescope(video to film transfer,the typical way that T.V. programs were archived back then,since videotape had only been invented one year before,in 1958).The condition of the film print used here is generally freer from scratches than the one seen on the Japanese Laserdisc,though in some scenes,there is a very mild horizontal distortion;nothing objectionable.Despite the concern of another reviewer,Miles' performance is indeed presented in its' entirety here.However,for unknown reasons,host Robert Herridge's spoken introduction to the program's second half is edited out of this print.However,interestingly,there are occasional video drop-out streaks visible in all film prints of the program,indicating that this video to film transfer wasn't made during the live telecast,but rather from a videotape;that the program DID exist on the(then new) videotape format at one time.I wonder,if somewhere in CBS television archives,if that videotape still exists,and,if so,if it is still in playable condition.But CBS may not care to look,since they no longer own the program.The new DVD is licensed from a sub-licensee,but the Japanese Laserdisc stated that it was copyrighted by The Estate of(program host) Robert Herridge."

Short but, oh, so sweet

Clare Quilty | a little pad in hawaii | 02/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great television performance from April, 1959, featuring Miles' legendary quintet (including Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb) and the Gil Evans Orchestra.

They play:

"So What"
"The Duke"
"Blues for Pablo"
"New Rhumba"

In terms of picture quality, this was the first time I've seen the broadcast (barring the few, bracing moments of "New Rhumba" used in Ken Burns' Jazz) so I have nothing to compare it against but it looked fine to me, considering the source.

It's under 25 minutes and there's not an extra feature to be found, which is a shame, but this is both historic TV and incredible music. Maybe one day there'll be an expanded edition but until then, this is where it's at."

Snap shot of a golden time period

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 06/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As seen in New York's Studio 61, "Cool Jazz Sound" features some beautiful music by Miles Davis. Recorded in 1959 with the great quintet and the Gil Evans Orchestra, the DVD is a snap shot of a golden time period. The music is moody, intellectual, hip and low-key. While it's painfully short, 'So What' makes it worth the price alone. The audio quality is excellent but the video quality is mediocre. Given today's inexpensive video technology, the picture quality is unexcusable. The viewer just needs to light a cigarette to feel like he is watching an art house film in some 1950's theater. While length and picture quality are drawbacks, Miles Davis enthusiasts will be grateful to lay their eyes on the great quintet interacting with the Gil Evans orchestra."

Fianlly!

R. Johnson | Austin, TX USA | 01/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For enthusiasts of the early quintet years, it is great to finally get a video like this released. I love to watch Miles and Coltrane (and the rest of the band) interact. The DVD is just under 25 minutes but, until something else comes along, I am grateful to at least have this. Though the video quality could be better, the performances are intense and well recorded."