Portrait of Lester Young, Famous Door, New York, N.Y. by William Gottlieb circa September, 1946
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. Considered innovative at the time of its release, the film served as a platform for showcasing emerging musicians and artists who had limited opportunities for mainstream exposure.
The short film is a jam session featuring several African American jazz performers, including saxophonist Lester Young, vocalist Marie Bryant, and dancer Archie Savage, who performs the jitterbug in a dimly lit setting that reflects the tone of the music.
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]
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 ISBN0826429777, pages 374–375
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
