Jazz Music
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Documentaries
Traditional Jazz Music
The Story of Jazz - New Orleans Stomp
New Orleans tour guide John McCusker takes us on a tour of historical jazz locations in New Orleans.
Louis Armstrong
A British documentary about the great jazz musician and singer Louis Armstrong that appeared on the U.S. A&E cable channel.
Jazz Documentaries
The Swing Thing
An important 2008 BBC Four documentary that presents the history of swing music, a form of jazz that became the first worldwide pop phenomenon during the 1930s, lasting through the 1940s. This documentary discusses how the music was rooted in the culture of 1920’s USA and shows how the fusion of the Jazz in New Orleans with big bands was originally pioneered by African American artists.
A Great Day in Harlem 1958
“A Great Day in Harlem is a 1994 American documentary film directed by Jean Bach about the photograph of the same name. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Director Jean Bach acquired an original home movie showing the 1958 photo shoot from musician Milt Hinton. She used Hinton’s home video as the basis for her hour-long documentary.
Jazz Artists
Birdsong - The Story of Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker (1920–1955) was a legendary American alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Nicknamed “Bird” or “Yardbird”, he is widely considered one of the most revolutionary geniuses in jazz history and the chief architect behind the bebop movement.
The Triumph of Charlie Parker
The “Masters of American Music” television documentary from 1987 about the life of Charlie Parker (1920-1955). It is narrated by Ted Ross and directed by Gary Giddins, whose book by the same title was revised and republished by the University of Minnesota Press.
The Story of Lester Young
A documentary written and produced by Bruce Fredericksen. A rare film of the great saxophonist who was nicknamed Prez, along with on-camera interviews with the likes of Bobby Scott, Jo Jones, John Hammond, John Lewis, Buster Smith, Dizzy Gillespie, Connie Kay, friends and relatives, bring the elusive legend of Lester Young to life. (Jazz Legends)
Big Ben - featuring Ben Webster
Ben Webster (1909–1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist and one of the “big three” swing tenors alongside Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Renowned for his warm, breathy tone on ballads and a raspy, growling sound on uptempo blues, he was a defining soloist for the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
To Bop or Not to Be: A Jazz Life (1990)
John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was a groundbreaking American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and singer. Alongside saxophonist Charlie Parker, he was a primary architect of bebop. To Bop or Not to Be: A Jazz Life, a 1990 documentary about trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie by Norwegian director Jan Horne, features musician interviews in English, concert performances and archival footage.
Earl "Fatha" Hines Documentary
Earl “Fatha” Hines (1903–1983) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader universally recognized as the “father” of modern jazz piano. Renowned for his pioneering “trumpet-style” playing, he revolutionized jazz by playing single-note melodies in octaves and breaking up traditional stride rhythms with daring, syncopated left-hand accents.
Art Tatum - The Art of Jazz Piano
A 1988 documentary about the legendary jazz pianist Arthur Tatum Jr., an important innovative jazz artist, and one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.
Music in the Key of Oscar
The 1992 documentary on the life and music of the legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. It was written by Bruce Garvey.
Billie Holiday – Sensational Lady (BBC)
“Controversial celebrities of the 20th century. Jazz singer Billie Holiday is remembered today for her turbulent personal life as much as for her artistic achievements – addicted to drink, drugs and abusive men, the enduring image is of a tragic victim. (BBC)”
Laughin' Louis - Louis Armstrong
Aired on BBC TV in 1984, “Laughin’ Louis” was a BBC Archive documentary charting the life of Louis Armstrong. Written and presented by the respected jazz broadcaster and writer Russell Davies, the special served as a comprehensive, career-spanning biographical tribute.