In an open letter sent to a selection of jazz journalists but not the organization itself, “unidentified producers of the Jazz Icons Series" contended, “We have spoken with Count Basie's estate and the rights holders to the footage filmed in Sweden in 1968 and neither of them has given permission for this material to be released."
“It is irresponsible and reprehensible that an organization that purports to be arbiters of quality in jazz would nominate such a subpar and illegitimate release to a major reward, the unsigned letter continued. Every time we see bootleg releases reviewed in mainstream jazz publications it makes our blood boil."
The JJA is conducting research into Jazz Icons claim of the illegitimacy of the Count Basie DVD, and JJA members are asked to continue to vote on the proposed finalists while legality of the Count Basie DVD is being determined. Members of the JJA Jazz Awards ballot committee, contacted by email, acknowledged that provenance of the video had not been vetted.
The JJA is conducting research into Jazz Icons claim of the illegitimacy of the Count Basie DVD.
“We haven't researched the legal background of Jazz Icons productions, either, or that of any of the more than a 1,500 CDs considered for Jazz Awards voting," said Howard Mandel, president of the JJA. “As professional journalists, we value professional standards and adherence to copyright law, but details of foreign rights for 42-year- old videos shot for European television broadcast can be hard to ascertain. Whether a Spanish company contracted with German or Swedish holders of Basie's 68 video, whether the Basie family owns this material and what restrictions pertain to it is not essential to appreciating the DVDs content."
Voting in the first nominating round by more than 60 of the JJA's full professional members positioned the Basie DVD, released by Spain's Impro Jazz studio, ahead of any single one of the eight DVDs Jazz Icons released as a Series 4 Boxed Set in 2009. Those discs, also sold individually, comprise vintage concert performances from 1962 to 1970 by Erroll Garner, Anita O'Day, Art Blakey, Woody Herman, Coleman Hawkins, Art Farmer and Jimmy Smith with their ensembles.
This years finalists along with the Count Basie video are:
21st Century Chase, a set by tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson recorded live and issued by Delmark Records; Extraordinary Life and Music of a Jazz Legend about violinist Svend Asmussen, issued by Zone 1 and distributed by Shanachie; Thelonious Monk: American Composer and Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker, both re-releases distributed by EuroArs International of documentaries produced in 1991 and 1993, respectively by Toby Byron Multiprises; and Anita O'Day: The Life of A Jazz Singer, directed by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden, initially released in 2007 by Ugo Productions and Elan Entertainment.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
