Jazz 

A survey of the musical form's history and major talents.

Stars:

Keith David, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Giddins

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Keith David	...	Narrator 10 episodes, 2001
Wynton Marsalis	...	Self / ... 9 episodes, 2001
Gary Giddins	...	Self / ... 8 episodes, 2001
Kevin Conway	...	Narrator 7 episodes, 2001
Delroy Lindo	...	Narrator 7 episodes, 2001
Philip Bosco		6 episodes, 2001
Gerald Early	...	Self / ... 6 episodes, 2001
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Narrator 6 episodes, 2001
Stanley Crouch	...	Self / ... 5 episodes, 2001
Margo Jefferson	...	Self / ... 5 episodes, 2001
Jimmy Rowles	...	Self 5 episodes, 2001
Artie Shaw	...	Self / ... 5 episodes, 2001
Arvell Shaw	...	Self / ... 5 episodes, 2001
James Lincoln Collier	...	Self / ... 4 episodes, 2001
Ann Duquesnay		4 episodes, 2001
Branford Marsalis	...	Self 4 episodes, 2001
Jackie McLean	...	Self 4 episodes, 2001
Courtney B. Vance		4 episodes, 2001
George Wein	...	Self 4 episodes, 2001
Sidney Bechet	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Lester Bowie	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Harry Connick Jr.		3 episodes, 2001
Michael Cuscuna	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Ossie Davis	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Duke Ellington	...	Self / ... 7 episodes, 2001
Mercedes Ellington	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Matt Glaser	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Lorraine Gordon	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Milt Hinton	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Stan Levey	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
James Maher	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Phil Schaap	...	Self / ... 3 episodes, 2001
Studs Terkel	...	Self - writer 3 episodes, 2001
Cassandra Wilson	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Louis Armstrong	...	Self 8 episodes, 2001
Vernel Bagneris		2 episodes, 2001
Bix Beiderbecke	...	Self / ... 2 episodes, 2001
Buddy Bolden	...	Self 2 episodes, 2001
Tom Bower		2 episodes, 2001
Matthew Broderick	...	Narrator 2 episodes, 2001
Avery Brooks		2 episodes, 2001
Dave Brubeck	...	Self 3 episodes, 2001
Hodding Carter III		2 episodes, 2001
Helen Oakley Dance	...	Self 2 episodes, 2001
Charles Durning		2 episodes, 2001
Harry Edison	...	Self 2 episodes, 2001
James Reese Europe	...	Self 2 episodes, 2001
Benny Goodman	...	Self / ... 4 episodes, 2001
Fletcher Henderson	...	Self 2 episodes, 2001
Jon Hendricks	...	Self / ... 2 episodes, 2001
Earl 'Fatha' Hines	...	Self / ... 2 episodes, 2001
Billie Holiday	...	Self 5 episodes, 2001

Storyline

This series explores the history of the major American musical form. We track its development in African American culture, its rise to prominence with its golden age of popularity spanning from the 1920's to the mid 1940's both in its original form and in Swing through its popular decline and the rise of vital new sub-genres into the present day. Along the way, we learn of the lives and work of major contributors to the form such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Charlie "Bird" Parker and many others who helped form Jazz into the vibrant musical form it is. Moreover, we see how the music reflected the political and social issues of the African American community over the course of the form's history.

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Plot Keywords:

american history | black history | african american | jazz | tv mini series | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History | Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Narrator Keith David also voiced the character of Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog.

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Connections

Features Check and Double Check (1930)

User Reviews

Starts With a Bang; Ends in a Whimper

The culture of the "People, all the People" has been Ken Burns' great theme. In the first two thirds of "Jazz" he eloquently presents these grand ideas. From Armstrong and Ellington to Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman we are swept along in a vibrant, multi-layered story of something special that would change the world.

But once the documentary reaches the 50's, the tale takes a radical turn. There is a lot of focus on drugs and broken lives. This may be important but these sad endings lead the film on a downward emotional spiral. (I understand why Spike Lee detests jazz musician's stories focusing on drugs.) But at least the music is good.

When the so called jazz music of the 60's and beyond is revealed, we see that the climax of this film is a betrayal of its beginning. The "People's music" has vanished. We see that "real" jazz is elitist and narrow and for the most part is a musical dead end.

We find that "real" jazz is played on acoustic instruments such as trumpets and saxophones. So, electric jazz guitarists are almost never mentioned as well as any electric keyboard players. And the only correct modern style comes straight from Be Bop. We hardly hear any Latin jazz or Fusion.

The great music promoter John Hammond once said that his most satisfying discovery was George Benson. Of course we never hear about Benson because he was popular and he plays electric guitar. No, instead the film's ending becomes an overblown promotion of Wynton Marsalis who since he acts as the film's "senior creative consultant" brings the great story down to an example of petty ego.

Overall "Jazz" has seven excellent episodes about a vital part of history and its effect on the world's music. Enjoy these and after that I would gently suggest to quit while you're ahead.

Details

Official Sites:

PBS WNET New York

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jazz

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Florentine Films, General Motors Mark of Excellence Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min (10 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1