West Coast Cool Jazz Film

West Coast Cool Jazz explores the musicians, labels, and cultural innovators who shaped a defining chapter of American jazz from 1949–1969. From Miles Davis and Gil Evans’ Birth of the Cool to the vibrant Black music scene on Central Avenue… from bebop figures like Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Dizzy Gillespie to Chet Baker and the distinctly Californian sound that influenced Bossa Nova, crime scores, and classic animation—this film brings the era to life through rare archival material and contemporary insight.
More than a music documentary, it captures a cultural moment and an emerging anti-hero sensibility that helped define a California identity. Currently in development. Scheduled for completion in 2027.
Created & Produced by: Sandra Evans 
Directed by: Frank Zamacona
Historian: Ted Gioia
Cinematography: Steve Condiotti, Eli Adler
Post-Production & Editing: Tom Christopher
Archival & Music Research / Talent Liaison: Alan Powell
… and the West Coast Cool Jazz team.