On October 17, 1996 veteran and contemporary jazz artists gathered at Carnegie Hall to play a tribute concert to Eastwood, who has been a big supporter of the Jazz scene and Jazz artists in general. Some of the biggest names in the business came out for a chance to play for Eastwood. On this disc you'll find greats and legends like: Jimmy Scott, Joshua Redman, James Carter, Thelonious Monk Jr., Kenny Mahogany, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Eastwood's son Kyle Eastwod with his quartet.

As obvious by the line-up, it would be hard to be disappointed. The only complaint is that scenes from his films are often shown while the artists are playing. That wouldn't be a big deal, but the film audio often interferes with the music. It's a jarring interruption in the middle of some great jazz. There are also a few comments from Eastwood that are thrown in between some of the songs that break the flow, but not as badly as the film clips.

The disc is full of great performances, but the standout for me would have to be Chapter 15 when James Carter and Joshua Redman join the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band for a smokin' rendition of Straight No Chaser and Now's the Time. Redman and Carter play off each other amazingly, trading back and forth for almost the entirety of the song until things come to an amazing crescendo in the unaccompanied jam at the end. This song makes the disc worth the price already. Add in the 6-7 sax jam on Chapter 24, Lester Leaps In, and there's no reason a jazz fan shouldn't own this disc.

Eastwood makes an appearance on stage at the end of the concert and urges everyone to pass the legacy of jazz on to the younger generation. He makes the funny comment that there is more to good music than flashy shows and fancy costumes and says that everyone here keeps their tattoos hidden. He then takes to the piano (quite well) himself and begins his own CE Blues. It's a great ending that gets chopped off by the credits and final comments of those involved.

The Video: It's a full frame presentation that serves its purpose, but is really secondary to the DVD. The quality isn't perfect but you'll be too busy listening the sound to notice. They mix the footage of the concert with projected film clips and video interviews that all come from different sources. They are matched nicely and the transition between them is to jarring, except for the audio difference.

The Audio: Here's the most important aspect of the disc and is near perfect. A 5.1 mix would have been nice, but the Dolby Digital Surround is great. It's crisp and bright with every note making its way to the surface. The audio has a deepness and warmth to it that puts you in Carnegie Hall during the concert. This is easily the best part of the disc.

The Extras: As usual, there's not much here. A short 10-minute documentary talks about how the concert came to be and Eastwood gives a little history of his love for Jazz and how he passed it on to his son. It's typical promotional information, but informative.

Overall: It's a beautifully produced, if not occasionally flawed, disc that showcases some of the best in jazz. It makes a great look at jazz or a perfect introduction for new listeners. Definitely one to add to the collection.