Created under the guidance of jazz impresario and Verve Records founder Norman Granz, this short captures the spontaneity of a jam session and is one of few film records of black jazzers of the day including tenor sax legend Lester Young.
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Title: Jammin' the Blues (1944)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Lester Young | ... | Self - on Tenor Sax | |
| George 'Red' Callender | ... | Self - on Bass (as Red Callender) | |
 |
Harry Edison | ... | Self - on Trumpet |
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Marlowe Morris | ... | Self - on Piano |
| Sidney Catlett | ... | Self - on Drums | |
| Barney Kessel | ... | Self - on Guitar | |
| Jo Jones | ... | Self - on Drums (as Joe Jones) | |
|
|
John Simmons | ... | Self - on Bass |
|
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Illinois Jacquet | ... | Self - on Tenor Sax |
|
|
Marie Bryant | ... | Self - Singer and Dancer |
| Archie Savage | ... | Self - Dancer | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
This Warner Bros. short is a jam session with several outstanding African-American jazz musicians, including Lester Young. Darkly lit and with a mood that matches the music, the film was groundbreaking in its day and was a showcase for then lesser-known musicians and entertainers who would not otherwise have had exposure to a much larger audience. Written by garykmcd
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Narrator: This - is a jam session. Quite often, these great artists gather and play, ad lib, hot music. It could be called a midnight symphony.
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(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Performed by Lester Young, George 'Red' Callender, Harry Edison, Marlowe Morris, Sidney Catlett and Barney Kessel with vocals by Marie Bryant
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Did You Know?
Trivia
In 1995, Jammin' the Blues was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". See more »Quotes
[first lines]Narrator: This - is a jam session. Quite often, these great artists gather and play, ad lib, hot music. It could be called a midnight symphony.
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Soundtracks
On the Sunny Side of the Street(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Performed by Lester Young, George 'Red' Callender, Harry Edison, Marlowe Morris, Sidney Catlett and Barney Kessel with vocals by Marie Bryant
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 May 1944 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Играя блюз See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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This short was nominated for an Academy Award and I wish it had won! Basically a filmed jam session between some very talented musicians, including Lester Young and Joe Jones, the music is incredible! Hollywood quite often embraced Jazz (particularly animation, believe it or not) but this is a rare look on film at an improvisational jam. This has been added to the Film Preservation list and deservedly so. TCM runs this as filler periodically and runs it every March sometime for its' "31 Days of Oscar" tribute. From downtown at the buzzer, swish, nothing but net and the shot's so smooth, the net barely moved. Most solidly and highly recommended!!!