You can’t imagine Toots Thielemans in a bad mood. He is a man who is completely content with his life and work, and his personality re ects this joie de vivre almost as much as his music. He is, quite simply, the greatest and probably rst, jazz harmonica player. Born in Brussels, Belgium, his…
Performed up at DUKES of Dixieland's home, DUKES Place, atop the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter. We recorded three performances because the first two sold out. One disgruntle fan who could not get in for any of the three performances, actually set fire to the drapes on the 10th floor of…
Woody Herman featuring the Young THundering Herd with Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Pete Barbuti and the DUKES of Dixieland bring Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd together at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre with Joe Williams, Pete Barbuti, Clark Terry and the DUKES of Dixieland -- Plus several…
When Woody Herman died, American music lost the last of the big band giants. Duke Ellington, Count Bassie and Stan Keaton had all gone before. Like these other greats, Woody was an original. His artistry and energy spanned a half century, and through it all he retained humor and integrity while leading…
A salute to the father of jazz features the late jazz master Danny Barker, who performed in storyville with Jelly Roll in the early 1900s.
While performing in the Midwest several years ago, Charlie Byrd and “Great Guitar” buddies Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel were invited to the home of an ardent jazz fan. She was excited. Here were three jazz guitar titans sitting in her somewhat sumptuous living room. Choreographed to their…
Former Merv Griffin stooge, trumpeter/singerSheldon is joined by Dave Frishberg, piano; John Pisano, guitar; Dave Stone, bass and Frankie Capp on drums. Even though Sheldon is best known for his 16 years as musical director on the Griffin show, he did play with the Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman bands…
Irma Thomas is called the “Queen of Soul.” With her group “The Professionals,” Irma is a part of every New Orleans celebration, from the biggest of them all, Mardi Gras, to Mother’s Day at the Zoo. In this performance, taped before a live audience in the intimate atmosphere…
Scatting, talking along, singing, Ernestine Anderson wraps herself around a tune. Emerging in the ‘50’s with a hit album in 1956, she was hailed among the best, just behind Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Recorded here in the ‘80’s, she’s in stride, in tune, her rich…
There are singers that play piano and pianists who sing. Then there are those rare performers who not only do both, but integrate them into a personalized style. Ellyn Rucker can sing ballads with distinction, scat at a blistering pace, and play rollicking or empathetic piano solos. All these elements…
Back in November of 1984, Leisure Jazz was producing a series of jazz shows for PBS entitled “Music from Mahogany Hall”, shot in the New Orleans French Quarter. One of those 60 minute shows featured three singers who called themselves "The Pfister Sisters" featuring Holley Bendtsen,…
Don Menza in New Orleans” Features one of jazz’s most prolific composers and saxophone virtuosos. Menza has played with and arranged for some of the great big bands in American jazz including Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman. This Leisure Video presentation features him in a…
