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Third Installment of Jazz Icons DVD Series Coming


07/02/2008
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(PR) The eagerly anticipated release of the third series of Jazz Icons DVDs has arrived. Reelin' In The Years Productions and Naxos of America, Inc. are proud to announce the September 30, 2008 release of the next seven titles in the illustrious DVD series featuring performances by Sonny Rollins, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, Nina Simone, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Filmed in Europe between 1958 and 1975, this third set of Jazz Icons(TM) DVDs features concerts by seven of the most influential jazz artists of the 20th century captured in their prime and accompanied by some of the most legendary sidemen of the day. Previously forgotten or lost in the vaults of TV studios throughout Europe (in some cases for nearly 50 years!), they are now being made available for the first time.

The running time for the DVDs range from 60 to 100 minutes. All seven Jazz Icons(TM) titles will be sold separately and as a deluxe boxed set with a bonus eighth disc featuring additional rare, never-before-seen, performances.

Each of the new Jazz Icons(TM) DVDs features one or more concerts filmed live in television studios and concert halls throughout Europe between 1958 and 1975, one of the most creative periods in jazz history. All seven DVDs feature performances that have never been officially released, and in many cases, the material is newly discovered and was never broadcast. In addition, every performance in the Jazz Icons(TM) DVD series has been transferred and re-mastered from the best-quality original masters yielding excellent sound and video.

Among the wealth of highlights in the third series of Jazz Icons(TM) DVDs:

� Two incredible Sonny Rollins concerts from 1965 and 1968 (his classic period) featuring 87 minutes of music. Both concerts feature stellar European and American side-musicians including pianist Kenny Drew and bass legend Niels-Henning �rsted Pedersen. Rollins, one of the most important saxophonists in jazz, shines throughout.

� Two historic Cannonball Adderley concerts from 1963 totaling 100 minutes and recorded two days apart in Switzerland and Germany. Both shows feature the classic three-horn frontline of Cannonball, his brother Nat Adderley and the legendary Yusef Lateef, as well as pre-Weather Report pianist Joe Zawinul. This DVD is the definitive reminder that Cannonball Adderley was one of the most outstanding and highly respected alto saxophonists in the history of jazz.

� Two incredible Nina Simone concerts from 1965 and 1968 that showcase the multifaceted diva in all of her glory. Simone shines as a jazz vocalist extraordinaire on "Tomorrow Is My Turn," as a definitive folk interpreter on Bob Dylan's "The Ballad Of Hollis Brown" and as a passionate civil rights activist on both "Four Women" and her classic "Mississippi Goddam." This DVD is a must for Simone fans!

� Three never-before-seen Oscar Peterson shows from 1963, 1964 and 1965 featuring the late pianist in his prime on three terrific nights. Joining Peterson are bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen (the classic Oscar Peterson Trio) as well as trumpet and flugelhorn legend Clark Terry, who also sings, and trumpet great Roy Eldridge. Although Oscar Peterson passed away in December of 2007, his performances on this DVD demonstrate why his music will live on forever.

� A one hour Lionel Hampton big band concert filmed in 1958. Hampton's big band storms through a mixture of high energy jazz and jump blues numbers that delight the Belgian crowd. Hampton himself plays vibes, drums and piano and throughout every minute of this concert shows why he is still considered one of the greatest players, band leaders and entertainers of all time.

� An incredible 100-minute Bill Evans DVD featuring five separate performances filmed between 1965 and 1975. Spanning an eleven-year period, Evans is featured with four different rhythm sections including the stunning duo of bassist Niels-Henning �rsted Pedersen and drummer Alan Dawson. Bill Evans is widely considered one of the greatest Jazz pianists of all time and this DVD provides ample proof throughout every note of his playing.

� Three exceptional concerts by Rahsaan Roland Kirk; two performed in 1963 in Belgium and Holland and one from 1967 in Norway. All three shows present Kirk playing his entire instrumental arsenal of flutes, tenor sax, clarinet, siren, music box, whistles, manzello and stritch - often simultaneously! Kirk's playing is full of unique fire and brilliance as he challenges and brings out the best from such top-notch sidemen as drummers Daniel Humair and Alex Riel (of Bill Evans Trio Fame) as well as bassist Niels-Henning �rsted Pedersen (featured for the third time in this series.)

� The bonus disc that accompanies the boxed set is itself a treasure trove of great performances featuring two short Sonny Rollins sets plus and interview (both from 1959 and totaling 30 minutes), a four song Rahsaan Roland Kirk set from 1963 and a two song Nina Simone performance with an interview from 1965 featuring another amazing version of her classic "Mississippi Goddam."

Each DVD also includes a 24-page booklet with insightful and informative essays by noted jazz historians as well as previously unseen photos and memorabilia.

The release of the seven new releases in the third series brings the total number of DVDs in the Jazz Icons(TM) series to 23 different titles. Including the two bonus discs in the boxed set, the Jazz Icons(TM) DVD series now features over 30 hours of classic performances.



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