The Last Of The Blue Devils: The Kansas City Jazz Story (Widescreen)

DVD, 90 minutes, RHAPSODY FILMS

"The Last Of The Blue Devils" is a rare document of the 1974 reunion that brought together Kansas City swing and blues giants Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Jay McShann, as well as countless performers and instrumentalists in the Kansas City jazz scene from the 30s onwards. Along with being an endearing and loving portrayal of each of these great musicians, it is also a celebration of one of the most important cities that formed modern jazz. A chronicle of Kansas City, the birthplace of "Bird" (Charlie Parker), "The Last Of The Blue Devils" is a movie about time standing still. "The Last Of The Blue Devils" is much more than reminiscences of a group of friends playing the blues and reliving old times, it is a document of a revolution in modern music. Producer and director Bruce Ricker crafts a wonderful, one-of-a-kind film which catches incredible performances by using a split-screen technique that shows the soul and passion of the players, as well as their technical prowess as the top jazz musicians of their day. Audio Commentary By Director-producer Bruce Ricker, 19 Minutes Of Outtakes, Including the Musical Numbers "Honey Hush", "Rose Garden", "Chains of Love", And "Shake, Rattle And Roll" Performed By Big Joe Turner and Jay McShann.