I first became aware of Ken Burns’ great documentary on the history of jazz about six years ago. I quickly took home the library’s copy and watched it in one big binge session. And now the library has this great documentary available online too!
Ken Burns takes a lot of information over many decades - nearly the entire history of jazz - and presents it with historical photos and recordings. With a liberal dose of interviews from academics who study jazz and the people who participated in shaping its history, Burns weaves together a documentary that is both broad and personal at the same time.
From the roots, with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, we get a sense of the deep history and culture embedded in jazz. But by including interviews with living legends like Dave Brubeck and Artie Shaw, we also get a sense of how short that history is, as well as an appreciation for the richness that has developed in such a short period of time. He walks us through several major styles of jazz, talking about the major figures and world events of the time, and always keeping a running soundtrack to give us a sense of the musical style in context.
I consider this one a must-see documentary for everyone. If you know nothing about jazz, you’ll feel like an expert at the end. If you’re already a jazz aficionado, it’s another excuse to indulge your jazz habit.
Now: watch it online. Pick your part and click the "Get it!" link. ~ Jana Atkins
