Misha Mengelberg

For the past several decades, Holland has been a major hotspot of non-museum piece jazz and there’s no better primer on what Kevin Whitehead dubbed "New Dutch Swing” than this beautifully produced DVD tribute to one of its presiding geniuses: pianist Misha Mengelberg. This 80-minute documentary takes you from his early days as a Conservatory misfit and wonky bop pianist (that’s Misha on Eric Dolphy’s Last Date) through his involvements with free jazz mayhem and chaotic Fluxus performances up to his current status as the unkempt, curmudgeonly doyen of the Dutch scene. It’s packed full of great interviews (Louis Andriessen, Han Bennink and Dave Douglas, among others) and stunning concert footage. There’s also 70 minutes of bonus material on the DVD, including two duets with Douglas and a completely daft ICP Orchestra performance featuring Anthony Braxton and a troupe of carpenters. (ToonDist, www.toondist.nl)