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

Director Gjon Mili had been an award-winning still photographer for Life magazine but had never made a movie before.

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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

Cool for cats

Simply but imaginatively filmed studio-set performance short, a perfect match of music and images that defines the very coolness of cool and the hipness of hip. The precise visual and musical arrangements give the lie to its claim to be a record of a jam session: what it is, is a pop video - every bit as stylised and knowing as that implies, and all the better for it. Among the very best music films ever made, and almost certainly the most cinematic. These cats are solid gone, daddy-o ...

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