Jammin' the Blues
| Jammin' the Blues | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Gjon Mili |
| Produced by | Gordon Hollingshead |
| Narrated by | Knox Manning |
| Cinematography | Robert Burks[1] |
| Edited by | Everett Dodd |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 10 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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Jammin' the Blues is a 1944 American short film made by Gjon Mili and Norman Granz in which a number of prominent jazz musicians re-create the jam-session atmosphere of nightclubs and after-hours spots. It features Lester Young, Red Callender, Harry Edison, Marlowe Morris, Sid Catlett, Barney Kessel, Jo Jones, John Simmons, Illinois Jacquet, Marie Bryant and Archie Savage.[2]
Plot[edit]
 | This article needs a plot summary. (January 2024) |
Cast[edit]
- Lester Young – Tenor saxophone
- Red Callender – Bass
- Harry "Sweets" Edison – Trumpet
- Marlowe Morris – Piano
- "Big" Sid Catlett – Drums (First two songs, and intro of third)
- Jo Jones – Drums (for final song)
- Barney Kessel – Guitar
- John Simmons – Double bass
- Illinois Jacquet – Tenor saxophone
- Marie Bryant – Vocals and Female Dancer
- Archie Savage – Male Dancer
Songs[edit]
- "Midnight Symphony"
- "On the Sunny Side of the Street" – Sung by Marie Bryant
- "Jammin' the Blues"
Production[edit]
Gjon Mili and Norman Granz, who was credited as technical director, shot the film over four days with the support of Warner Bros. head of short films, Gordon Hollingshead.[3] Barney Kessel was the only white musician in the film. His hands were stained with berry juice, and he was seated in the shadows to shade his skin.[4][5]
Reception and legacy[edit]
Producer Gordon Hollingshead was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Short Subject, One-reel.[6]
In 1995, Jammin' the Blues was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[7][8]
The short was released on both DVDs of the film Blues in the Night (1941) and Passage to Marseille (1944), the latter starring Humphrey Bogart.[9][10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ What to Stream This Weekend: Five Standout Oscar-Nominated Shorts|The New Yorker
- ^ AllMusic
- ^ Hershorn, Tad, Norman Granz: the Man who Used Jazz for Justice (Univ. of Calif. Press 2011), p. 66
- ^ Keepnews, Peter (8 May 2004). "Barney Kessel, 80, a Guitarist With Legends of Jazz, Dies". The New York Times.
- ^ Hershorn, p. 69
- ^ "The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "The 25 Films for '95 (February 5, 1996) – Library of Congress Information Bulletin". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ Blues in the Night: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video
- ^ Humphrey Bogart – The Signature Collection, Vol.2: DVD Talk of the DVD Video
External links[edit]
- Jammin' the Blues at IMDb
- Jammin’ the Blues essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 ISBN 0826429777, pages 374-375 [1]
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