Poster for the movie Jazz

Jazz

2001 — 2001 • 120 minutes
Documentary

Jazz is a ten part series that explores the evolution – and the genius – of America’s greatest original art form, focusing on the extraordinary men and women who could do something remarkable – create art on the spot. Jazz celebrates their profoundly enduring, endlessly varied, and infinitely alluring music in the context of the complicated country that gave birth to and influenced it, and was in turn transformed by it.

Picture of Keith David

Keith David

Narrator (voice)

Picture of Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Artie Shaw

Artie Shaw

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Art Tatum

Art Tatum

Self (archive footage)

Picture of John Coltrane

John Coltrane

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Art Blakey

Art Blakey

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis

Self

Picture of Miles Davis

Miles Davis

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Lester Young

Lester Young

Self (archive footage)

Picture of Stanley Crouch

Stanley Crouch

Self