Live Music Performances and interviews from Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual TV-series.
Sonny Rollins:
Filmed in March 1962. With Jim Hall, Bob Cranshaw and Bin Riley.
Including the tracks: The Bridge / God Bless The Child / If Ever I Would Leave You
Carmen McRae:
Filmed in March 1962. With Norman Simmons, Victor Sproles and Walter Perkins.
Including the tracks: I'm Gonna Lock My Heart / Trouble Is A Man / If You Never Fall In Love With Me / Love For Sale / Exactly Like You
DVD – PAL, B&W, 60 min.

Sonny Rollins
A veritable living legend, Sonny Rollins (b. 1930, New York), ranks up alongside Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and John Coltrane as one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists in the jazz field. A composer of note (he wrote Airegin, St. Thomas or Oleo), and an exceptionally honest artist, the self-demanding Sonny waxed a series of essential recordings for the Blue Note, Prestige and Riverside labels (alongside jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis or Clifford Brown), before withdrawing from public life during 1959-61, opting for inner peace and the study of music. The restless Rollins would again take time out in 1968 to study in India and Japan before making his "definitive" comeback in 1971.
This fascinating Jazz Casual taping shortly afterwards Sonny Rollins' initial comeback and the recording of his seminal album The Bridge, offers a rare opportunity to view and hear the legendary tenorman heading a pianoless quartet featuring the subtle yet intense guitarist Jim Hall and a solid rhythm section formed by bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Ben Riley.
A must for all jazz-lovers!
Air date: March 23, 1962
Sonny Rollins (Tenor Sax), Jim Hall (Guitar), Bob Cranshaw (Bass(, Ben Riley (Drums)
The Bridge (Rollins), God Bless The Child (B.Holiday-A.Herzog), If Ever I Would Leave You (Lemer-Lowe)
Carmen McRae
A jazz vocalist of exceptional talent and a very popular performer, Carmen McRae (1920-1994) first hit the spotlight while singing alongside the Benny Carter orchestra in 1944. After landing different jobs and frequently working as the intermission singer and pianist at a number of New York clubs, in 1954 she began to wax her first records as a leader, at a time when she was markedly influenced by both the Billie Holiday vocal style and the revolutionary Bop idiom. An artist renowned for her behind-the beat phrasing and ironical interpretations of well-known lyrics, McRae kept on cutting studio dates well up into the Eighties, always remaining faithful to her very personal singing style while staying a favourite among audiences from all over the world. This memorable episode from the legendary Jazz Casual series directed by Ralph J. Gleason offers a welcome opportunity to sample the unique singing style of one of the most respected vocalists in jazz:
the incomparable Carmen McRae.
Air date: March 15, 1962
Carmen McRae (Vocal), Norman Simmons (Piano), Victor Sproles (Bass), Waiter Perkins (Drums)
I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (Easton-Shand), Trouble Is A Man (A. Wilder), If You Never Fall In Love With Me (S.Jones), 'Round Midnight (T. Monk), Love For Sale (C. Porter), Exactly Like You (McHugh-Fields)