Frank Morgan; Monty Alexander; Red Rodney All Stars

One-time "Birdmen" Red Rodney (flugelhorn) and Roy Haynes (drums) combine at 1990 Cannes Festival with Frank Morgan (alto-sax), Monty Alexander (piano), and Rufus Reid (bass) on a tribute to saxist Charlie "Bird" Parker. Precise, sparkling playing from all-a no-nonsense format which privileges performance over camera gimmicks or other distractions. Solo features for each, but especially fine is Frank Morgan's spot on "Parker's Mood"-a blues played with great inventive fluency and immense feeling. Ben Sidran presents; scat singer Jon Hendricks and alto-saxist Phil Woods guest on Parker's blues, "Buzzy." Buy for Morgan's marvellous contribution alone! Recommended. (Andrew Clark, Editor, Riffs & Choruses: A New Jazz Anthology. Continuum Publishing.)

PAL format, 73 mins. Colour.