The Cry of Jazz (1959) Part 3 of 4

This is a most excellent critical analysis of Jazz. Brutally honest and totally factual. This 35 minute film packs more of a wallop than the ENTIRE 10 disc Ken Burns Jazz documentary.

The Cry of Jazz succeeds in its dramatization of a discussion between blacks and whites where the blacks participating in the dialouge actually carry the story rather than being the by-standers listening to whites tell our story.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• The
• Cry
• of
• Jazz
• 1959
• Part
• 3
• of
• 4

[2300skiddo]

I have been involved with jazz as a listener, writer, and musician for about 45 years, but somehow never heard of this film. Some of the polemical part is a little dated, but obviously the basic fact that jazz in BLACK music is incontestable. Any white person uncomfortable with that should get out of the kitchen. The music is fantastic, as is all the footage of the African American community. THANKS for posting this!

[modestvermin995]

That attitude was more likely a reaction to bebop... a lot of musicians (e.g. Sun Ra) found that it was becoming more stale and predictable around this period than when it was first introduced...

[bobbygoesbig]

it makes sense to me that the "jazz is dead" attitude existed around 1959, when the modal and free jazz movements were getting under way.