Introduced by John Crosby
Originally made for American television, this 1957 studio performance includes some of the finest performances ever seen on film. The bands themselves - Henry 'Red' Allen and the All Stars, Count Basie's All Stars with Jimmy Rush ing, the Jimmy Giuffre Trio and Thelonious Monk could hardly believe their luck when it was explained that they could smoke, wear hats, sweat-shirts and walk around if they felt like it.
The result is an important record of an extraordinary combination of jazz musicians, many of whom are sadly no longer alive. They include
Rex Stewart , Pee Wee Russell Coleman Hawkins , Jo Jones Vie Dickenson , Ben Webster
'Doc' Cheatham, Gerry Mulligan Roy Eldridge , Joe Newman and Freddie Green
Director JACK SMIGHT
Producer ROBERT HERR1DGE