Jazz Live in Europe: Count Basie & Friends in Montreux 1977

The Montreux Jazz Festival of 1977 was particularly dedicated to the "Art of the Jam Session" and quite all concerts were published in a LP set of 8 disks.

The following video made on July 14 shows a part of the Jam Session directed by Count Basie. The beginning set in trio with Ray Brown (bs) and Jimmie Smith (drm), named Trio Blues, is a particular event because, according to Norman Granz, was the first time that Basie as ever done a trio number in a concert.

In the second set, Kidney Stew, we can appreciate all the other members of the jam session:

Roy Eldridge (tr)
Beny Carter (a. sax)
Zoot Sims (t. sax)
Vic Dickenson (tbn)
Al Grey (tbn)

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Jazz Live in Europe: Carlos Santana & Friends at Montreux Jazz Festival 2004

A new video for a new great performance at Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) on July 15, 2004.

Carlos Santana with his regular band meets a "parterre de rois" :

Wayne Shorter (sax t)
Chick Corea (el. p)
Herbie Hancock (p)
Ravi Coltrane (sax s)
John Mac Laughin (g)

The musicians of the band are:
Benny Rietveld (bs)
Dennis Chambers & Chester Thompson (drm)
Raul Rekow & Karl Perazzo (perc)

Jazz Live in Europe: Nina Simone At Montreux Jazz Festival 1976

The Montreux Jazz Festival in Swizerland is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe.

The great jazz vocalist Nina Simone (1933-2003) in the years went there four times (1968, 1976, 1987, 1990).

The Concert of 1976 is considered the best one, her performance was incredible, exciting, riveting. She doesn't only sing, but also has an amusing interaction with the audience, as you can see in these two moments of the concert.

This first song is a spectacular interpretation of Feelings the famous song written in 1956 by Loulou Gaste (originally in french: Pour Toi)

The second Stars is quite a show with personal considerations on different artists.

Finally enjoy this particular break in which Nina is ironically fighting with the microphone.

If you've appreciated this videos you can find the DVD with the whole concert here