Café Montmartre, Copenhagen

Click here to Support Jazz on the Tube

One of the top jazz clubs in Europe, Copenhagen’s Café Montmartre featured the who’s who of modern jazz throughout the 1960s and ‘70s.

While the narration on this half-hour documentary is in Danish, included are some timeless live performances from the Café Montmartre that do not need to be translated.

Oscar Pettiford in 1959 verbally introduces his “Now See How We Are” and plays a bit of cello.

After Stan Getz in 1970 talks a little bit about the club, Bud Powell is featured in top form on “Anthropology” from 1962.

Also included is Stuff Smith on a 1965 version of “Bugle Call Blues” with pianist Kenny Drew, tenor-saxophonist Dexter Gordon playing tenor and singing “I Want To Blow Now” in 1971, Ben Webster with some spectacular trumpet playing by Charlie Shavers on a blues from 1971, and a little bit of Charles Mingus over the closing credits.

There is a lot to enjoy during this obscure documentary.

– Scott Yanow

Click here to Support Jazz on the Tube