Rhino Home Video Releases Three New Jazz Casuals Videos On January 2

LOS ANGELES -- Ring in the new year -- make that SWING in the new year with some of the coolest cats ever when Rhino Home Video releases three new VHS volumes and a new DVD of Ralph J. Gleason's JAZZ CASUAL series on January 2. The new VHS volumes feature Woody Herman and the Swingin' Herd, Art Farmer and Jim Hall, and Gerry Mulligan, while the vocalists-themed DVD compiles on one disc the Carmen McRae, Mel Torme, and Jimmy Rushing episodes previously released on VHS.

The Woody Herman, Art Farmer/Jim Hall, and Gerry Mulligan JAZZ CASUAL VHSs are available for $14.98 and the JAZZ CASUAL vocalists DVD is available for 29.99. All are available at www.rhino.com in addition to regular retail outlets.

Created by world-renowned jazz aficionado Ralph J. Gleason, these programs were originally broadcast on the National Education Television Network from 1960-1968 to showcase the wild sounds of jazz. Presenting jazz music to American audiences in an intimate and informal setting, the series was unique in that the musical director of each episode was, essentially, the featured artist > most revered musicians.

Woody Herman, a favorite of Gleason's, was the only featured artist to appear on JAZZ CASUAL more than once. Herman's bands included some of the best players in the field -- this version of Woody's Swingin' Herd features Sal Nistico on saxophone, Jake Hanna on drums, Bill Chase on trumpet, Nat Pierce on piano, Chuck Andrus on bass and, of course, Woody on clarinet. This episode of JAZZ CASUAL, which originally aired May 24, 1963, features A Taste of Honey," “My Wish," “Deep Purple," “Early Autumn," “Satin Doll," Mood Indigo," and “Blue Flame."

Ralph Gleason called Art Farmer's 1964 group “first rate jazz" and lyrical, soft, quiet, reflective and delightful." The group features Farmer on trumpet, Jim Hall on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Walter Perkins on drums. On this session, Farmer and group perform several ballad standards, such as “My Kinda Love," “Some Time Ago," and “Change Partners," along with Charlie Parker's “My Little Suede Shoes" and Milt Jackson's Bag's Groove." This episode originally aired January 10, 1964.

Toby Gleason, Ralph's son, says, “My dad must have had a great deal of respect for Gerry Mulligan, as he virtually never had anything bad to say about him or his group in his columns." Here Mulligan plays baritone sax and piano (a relative rarity, as Mulligan made a point in 1962 of both performing and recording without piano) with Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Gus Johnson on bass, and Wyatt Ruther on drums. They play Mulligan's compositions “Four For Three" and “Utter Chaos," and Brookmeyer's “Open Country," along with Mulligan's arrangement of “Darn That Dream" Delange/Van Huesen). This episode originally aired July 18, 1962.

The DVD release contains three of jazz's most outstanding vocalists: Carmen McRae, Mel Torme, and Jimmy Rushing. All three episodes present rare television appearances of each singer, and are collected here on DVD for the first time ever. As a special feature, the DVD can be viewed in its original mono mix or in newly remastered 5.1 surround audio.

JAZZ CASUAL: WOODY HERMAN
Pre-order date: Dec. 12 Format: VHS
Street date: Jan. 2 Running Time: