Jammin' the Blues (1944)

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.

Director:

Gjon Mili

Stars:

Lester Young, George 'Red' Callender, Harry Edison

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lester Young	...	Self - on Tenor Sax
George 'Red' Callender	...	Self - on Bass (as Red Callender)
Harry Edison	...	Self - on Trumpet
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
Illinois Jacquet	...	Self - on Tenor Sax
Marie Bryant	...	Self - Singer and Dancer
Archie Savage	...	Self - Dancer

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.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | year 1944 | 1940s | 20th century | session | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Short | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clips from this short were used in U2's music video for "Angel of Harlem".

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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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Connections

Featured in Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002)

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Soundtracks

Jammin' the Blues
(uncredited)
Written by Lester Young
Performed by Lester Young, John Simmons, Harry Edison, Marlowe Morris, Jo Jones, Barney Kessel, and Illinois Jacquet
Jitterbug danced by Marie Bryant and Archie Savage

User Reviews

HARDCORE JAM SESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have seen this ten minute short several times on T.C.M.it is a swinging jam session featuring some of the GREATEST jazz musicians that every lived. It has been told that when they filmed this short at the Warner Bro.studio lot that some of the great actors with Warner Bro. such as Humphrey Bogart, Bettie Davis, Edward G. Robinson Etc. stopped what they where doing to hear this jam session through out the day. One damper on this short was the fact that Barney Kessell was filmed silhouetted so that a white musician was not identified playing with black musicians.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Играя блюз

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1