Jazz: Videos

This 1955 classic features Steve Lawrence as Benny Goodman, but includes cameos by Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Ben Pollack, Teddy Wilson, and Kid Ory.

Clint Eastwood produced and directed this 1988 biopic of Charlie "Yardbird" Parker (played by Forest Whitaker). Eastwood won a Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

• Born to Be Blue takes place in the months after trumpeter Chet Baker was badly beaten by drug dealers in 1966. His front teeth were knocked out, and Baker fought to get himself off drugs and learn to adapt to a new embouchure. Actor Ethan Hawke gives a sensitive performance in this 2015 release.

Sal Mineo plays Gene Krupa in this 1959 release from Columbia Pictures.

James Stewart gives a convincing portrayal in this 1954 theatrical release.

Set in 1934 Kansas City, much of the action in this Robert Altman gangster film takes place against the backdrop of the Hey Hey Club and the political machinery of Tom Pendergast. The highlight of the movie is the music; it features great recreations of the late-night "cutting contests" for which KC was known. Appearing as Hey Hey Club musicians were many modern jazz greats -- James Carter, Joshua Redman, Cyrus Chestnut, Ron Carter, Christian McBride, and Kansas City's own Kevin Mahogany (1958-2017) as Big Joe Turner.

The story of Billie Holiday, produced by Berry Gordy and starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Isabel Sanford, Ned Glass, and Scatman Crothers.

Don Cheadle stars in this fictionalized meeting between Miles Davis and a brash young journalist who is intent on interviewing the angry, reclusive musician. The focus of the film is Davis's failed marriage to Frances Taylor (revealed through vivid and highly emotional flashbacks).

This film portrays the 1950s Paris jazz scene through the story of a friendship between jazz saxman "Dale Turner" (played by Dexter Gordon) and "Francis," an artist who idolizes the musician and tries to help him escape alcohol abuse. The story line was inspired by the book Dance of the Infidels, which chronicles the close friendship between author Francis Paudras and jazz pianist Bud Powell. Herbie Hancock received an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the soundtrack.

Whiplash is a 2014 independent film by writer/director Damien Chazelle that was inspired by his own experiences in a "very competitive" high school jazz band. The film's central characters are the aspiring jazz drummer "Andrew Neiman" (played by Miles Teller) and the intense and abusive music conservatory jazz teacher "Terrence Fletcher" (played by J.K. Simmons). The music, which is centered around two classic big band tunes ("Whiplash" and "Caravan"), was nominated for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (ultimately losing out to Antonio Sanchez's Birdman score).

Based on the 1938 novel by Dorothy Baker, this story of "Rick Martin" was inspired by the life of jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. The film stars Kirk Douglas as Rick, and the musical soundtrack features Harry James.

Former LIFE Magazine photographer W. Eugene Smith spent nine years documenting the jazz rehearsals and conversations in the New York City loft next door to his. The space was an informal gathering spot for established and emerging jazz musicians.

Decades after serving a prison sentence for killing jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan, his common-law wife reflects on their lives and his legacy.

The focus of this haunting 2006 documentary is on Monk's slow descent into mental illness, which forced him to retire from music and most public life in 1973. The film is largely centered around video footage shot by Christian Blackwood back in 1968, and includes mesmerizing scenes of Monk playing at the Five Spot in NYC with John Coltrane and in recording sessions for Columbia Records with legendary producer Teo Macero.

This 2-hour documentary follows Davis's personal and professional life, from his middle-class upbringing in racially-segregated East St. Louis to key musical points: his early recordings with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, the iconic Birth of the Cool and Kind of Blue albums, and his journey into fusion and rock.

The emphasis of this film is on the jazz scene in Kansas City during the 1930s-1950s. Featured musicians include Count Basie, Jay McShann, Big Joe Turner, Ernie Williams, Sonny Kenner, Jo Jones, and Claude "Fiddler" Williams.

Interviews and music clips from the McFadden Brothers, Stan Kessler, Bobby Watson, Leon Brady, Karrin Allyson, David Basse, Tim Whitmer, Diana "Mama" Ray, and others.

This 10-part series, narrated by Wynton Marsalis, is available on DVD as well as streaming video (through Films Media).

Produced by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, this 2015 two-hour documentary looks at the life of legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius (1951-1987). The project was completed with the support of the Pastorius family, and includes video footage and photographs from the family archive.

This classic jazz documentary was filmed when Chet Baker was in his late 50s (and just months before his death in 1988) when filmmaker Bruce Weber approached him with an idea for a life-retrospective documentary. The juxtaposition of vintage clips of Baker during his prime (in the 1950s) with 1987 footage of an older, rambling Baker gives the B&W film a surreal, "art house" vibe. Essential viewing for any jazz fan!

Includes three short films. The first looks at one of the leading all-girl jazz bands of the 1940s (the multiracial International Sweethearts of Jazz). The second and third films focus on individual players: "Tiny and Ruby" (trumpeter Tiny Davis and drummer Ruby Lucas), and "Maxine Sullivan" (vocalist).

In 1958, over 50 jazz musicians gathered together to pose for a historic photo by Art Kane. This documentary includes the home movie footage from that day's shoot, which was chaotic at best! Musicians include Roy Eldridge, Benny Golson, Milt Hinton, Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Marian McPartland, Charles Mingus, Jimmy Rushing, Maxine Sullivan, Dickie Wells, Mary Lou Williams, Lester Young, and many more.

This Clint Eastwood production is the seventh in a seven-part PBS series on the blues. Includes interviews and performances by Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Kansas City's own Jay McShann.

Hosted by Chick Corea, this disc is a retrospective look at performance styles from the 1920s to the 1980s. Includes performances by 24 artists, ranging from Jelly Roll Morton and Willie Smith to Keith Jarrett, Cecil Taylor, and Chick Corea.

Includes footage of Louie Bellson, Art Blakey, Cozy Cole, Chico Hamilton, Lionel Hampton, Elvin Jones, Rufus Jones, Gene Krupa, Jerry Lewis (yes, the comedian!), Joe Morello, Sunny Murray, Sonny Payne, Buddy Rich, Ed Shaughnessy, and Sam Woodyard.