"Jazz Icons": Art Farmer, Jimmy Smith, Erroll Garner, Art Blakey

By Ron Netsky on December 11, 2009

In the latest batch of beautifully filmed "Jazz Icons" DVDs, Art Farmer (England, 1964) plays with serene subtlety on ballads like "Darn That Dream," but on "Bilbao Song" and others, the great flugelhornist is on fire. In his band is a young Jim Hall conjuring equally stunning guitar solos. True to form, Art Blakey (Paris, 1965) surrounds himself with emerging geniuses. Among them are the great trumpeter Freddie Hubbard ("Blue Moon"!) and the superb pianist Jaki Byard, whose solos move from melodic to frenetic in the space of several seconds. If you ever had any doubts about the brilliance of Erroll Garner they will be dispelled as you focus on possibly the most dexterous pair of hands ever filmed (1963, 1964 Belgium and Sweden). And Jimmy Smith is smokin' at the Hammond B-3 organ (1969, France); his solo on "The Sermon" is worth the price of admission. Each DVD includes a booklet with an essay by a top jazz writer.