[Dixielandjazz] Bootleg Count Basie DVD honored by the Jazz Press

[Marek Boym]

OT - not really.  At least, not for many.
Cheers,
Marek

On 14/05/2010, David M Richoux <tubaman at tubatoast.com> wrote:
> I got this from a radio list - sort of OT...
>
> Dave Richoux
>
> ------------------------
>
> The reason for this letter is to express our outrage at a serious problem
> regarding the 2010 Jazz Journalists Association Awards. This being the
> nomination of “Count Basie & His Orchestra- Live in Berlin & Stockholm 1968”
> as the Jazz DVD of the Year.
>
>
> Of all the DVDs released in the past few years, you chose to honor a DVD
> that is an absolute 100% BOOTLEG. This is a fact. We have spoken with Count
> Basie’s estate and the rights-holder to the footage filmed in Sweden in 1968
> and neither of them has given permission for this material to be released.
> You should be ashamed of yourselves! The horrendous multi-generation VHS
> video quality alone would be enough to convince even the casual fan that
> this is a bootleg. It is irresponsible and reprehensible that an
> organization that purports to be arbiters of quality in jazz would nominate
> such a subpar and illegitimate release for a major award. Your support hurts
> everyone involved, from the artists to the footage holders. Every time we
> see bootleg releases reviewed in mainstream jazz publications it makes our
> blood boil. Especially when these publications ignore or downplay releases
> by legitimate companies who pay advances to the artists, pay for the
> footage, pay the side musicians through the  union, pay royalties,
> re-transfer the footage from master tapes or film, not  to mention including
> booklets with liner notes and photographs. There are many of us out there
> doing it right, and yet this is whom you choose to honor?  Sad.
>
>
> At the risk of this sounding like sour grapes at not being nominated, we
> would have been very happy if all of the nominees were relevant music DVDs
> legitimately released by reputable companies in 2009. This was not the case
> and is an embarrassment to the industry and a source of anger and
> frustration to those of us going the extra mile to create quality DVDs in an
> increasingly anemic jazz marketplace. Please do your homework, it's not that
> difficult.
>
>
> Regrettably yours,
>
> The Producers of the Jazz Icons Series
>
>
>
> -
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