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HISTORICALby Bill MeyerMasters’ ReturnTwo decades ago filmmakerToby Byron produced a series ofjazz and blues documentaries.Although they were released onvideotape in the mid-’90s, thatformat’s eclipse left them mostlyin the domain of arts-orientedcable channels until their recentreissue on DVD from Medici Arts.The Story Of Jazz (2057158,98:00) AAA 1 /2 delivers many ofthe same pleasures as Ken Burns’ Jazz,and stumbles into some of the same pitfalls.Since it runs just over an hour-and-ahalf,one can forgive its ruthless simplifications:It’s supposed to be a primer. And it’seasy to enjoy classic tunes by LouisArmstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holidayand Charlie Parker playing along withfootage of vintage cars, fashions and performanceclips. Voice-over narration stitchestogether sound bites by a panoply ofmusicians, from Jay McShann to TonyBennett to Lester Bowie, who discuss jazz’sAfrican roots, episodes of nation-wide popularityand essential qualities of swing andspontaneity. But the film’s great-figuretimeline goes awry when it tries to addressthe music’s post-bop development andquerulous when discussing fusion and theavant-garde.Bluesland (95410 85:00) AAAA makesup for a lack of original interview materialwith the complementary perspectives oftwo historians: the genial, appreciativeAlbert Murray and more analytical, sometimescontentious Robert Palmer. Thislends a dialectical quality to the discussionof the blues’ mundane and transcendentalimpulses and the music’s evolution from avariety of regional dialects into a nationallanguage with global impact. It has evenless time for post-’60s developments thanThe Story Of Jazz, essentially capping thetimeline with an all-star jam led by MuddyWaters. But like its companion, it’ll ropean audience into its missions of educationand appreciation with a killer soundtrack.The segments that focus on individualartists mirror the spirits of their subjects.Thus just as it’s impossible to feel too bluewhen you’re listening to the Count Basieband, you’ll likely come away from CountBasie: Swing The Blues (95397 59:00)AAAA with its story of artistic innovation,commercial success and long-term survivalfeeling uplifted and believing that itcouldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.There’s not much live footage of the bandin their 1930s pomp, but a gathering ofsurvivors Jimmy Lewis, Harry “Sweets”Edison, Buddy Tate and Earl Warren addsa warm glow of reminiscence to theband’s hot sounds. Celebrating Bird: TheTriumph Of Charlie Parker (2057078 59:00)AAAA and Lady Day: The Many Faces OfBillie Holiday (2057098 59:00) AAAA aresomewhat over-laden with superlatives,but they effectively explain each musician’sartistic merits. Both put the bestpossible face on their subjects’ disastrouspersonal problems by acknowledgingthem, considering the contributions ofracism and cultural condescension to eachone’s decline, and then moving on. But it’sstill painful to see the contrast betweenthe beauty of the well-fed younger Holidaycaptured in ’30s-era photographs and thewasted wraith filmed a couple yearsbefore her death. The Parker set leavesone with an equally great sense of frustrationover pointlessly lost potential. SarahVaughan: The Divine One (95328 59:00)AAA shows what a fine singer she was,but never really makes a case for her as aparadigm-shifter on the level of the otherprofiled individuals.The excellent Thelonious Monk:American Composer (2057118 59:00)AAAA 1 /2 demonstrates the pianist’s meritsmore through music than hyperbole.There’s a fair amount of live material fromthe ’60s that shows Monk still in fine form,and the pairing of ’50s studio recordingswith still images ensures that his best materialgets heard. Randy Weston deserves hisown award for his commentary, which balancesan acolyte’s worship with a master’sutter security with his own wisdom. WhileWorld According To John Coltrane (9539359:00) AAAA 1 /2 has incisive commentaryfrom Rashied Ali, Jimmy Heath and LaMonte Young, the generous helping of TVfootage featuring his incendiary chemistrywith drummer Elvin Jones shows howutterly thrilling his music was.DBOrdering info: medici.tv62 DOWNBEAT May 2010