Series synopsis
Jazz is an American documentary television series that premiered on PBS on January 9, 2001. It ended on January 31, 2001. It stars Keith David, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
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.
Premise
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.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Keith David as Narrator (voice)
- Sidney Bechet as Self (archive footage)
- Louis Armstrong as Self (archive footage)
- Duke Ellington as Self (archive footage)
- Benny Goodman as Self (archive footage)
- Artie Shaw as Self (archive footage)
- Billie Holiday as Self (archive footage)
- Glenn Miller as Self (archive footage)
Supporting cast
- Dave Brubeck as Self (archive footage)
- Art Tatum as Self (archive footage)
- John Coltrane as Self (archive footage)
- Art Blakey as Self (archive footage)
- Charles Mingus as Self (archive footage)
- Wynton Marsalis as Self
- Miles Davis as Self (archive footage)
- Lester Young as Self (archive footage)
- Stanley Crouch as Self
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 23 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 13 | ||
| Season 1 | 10 | January 9, 2001 | January 31, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Theatre de la Mutualite Thelonious Monk - au Theatre de la Mutualite (Paris, 1966) |
|
| 2 |
Baden, Germany Thelonious Monk - Baden, Germany, 1963 |
|
| 3 |
Japan Thelonious Monk Quartet - Evidence (Japan 1963) |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917 "Gumbo" traces the roots of jazz from the 1800s to 1917. The viewer will catch glimpses of Jelly Roll Morton, who erroneously claimed to have invented jazz, and the tragic, though influential, figure of trumpeter Buddy Bolden. |
January 9, 2001 |
| 2 |
The Gift: 1917-1924 How can one explain the genius of a Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington? Blessed with skill and talent far exceeding their peers, one can only define what they possess as a gift from the gods. These early portraits are imperative, because both figures have been so canonized that it is easy to forget the significance of their gifts. |
January 9, 2001 |
| 3 |
Our Language: 1924 -1929 Colorful characters like the tragic Bix Beiderbecke, powerhouse Bessie Smith, and the braggart Jelly Roll Morton, make the study of jazz fascinating. Perhaps most touching in this episode is the extended portrait of the troubled, white cornet player, Bix Beiderbecke, whose family disapproved of his chosen profession, and who would never be allowed to record with greats like Louis Armstrong due to segregation in the music business. |
January 10, 2001 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | PBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 9, 2001 |
| Last aired | January 31, 2001 |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday |