About this Site

This is not an Armstrong to Zorn or a Harry Barris to Barry Harris guide.
First and foremost this site is about where jazz musicians can be seen on film as well as heard

I aim to be comprehensive in my listings of documentaries, shorts and TV programmes.
The feature films are more selective. I have not included films where a jazz musician just happens to be on the sound track regardless of the music. Site hitters should search out David Meeker's book ‘jazz in the movies' for the comprehensive guide or click links and news pages for discography and related sites.
However, films that feature musicians playing jazz or ghosting for actors and are about the jazz life are included.
I always welcome additions and corrections to any film mentioned and the site is updated on a regular basis.
There is some duplication of films between pages. ( i.e. some films on the shorts pages may be found on the A to Z documentary pages etc.)

At present jazzonfilm.com is an information and educational site only, however the news and info pages may point out where some of the material may be available to view and buy. Also youtube.com has become an invaluable source of material.

I have now started to include selected youtube cilps on the various pages of this site.

You can email joe@jazzonfilm,com

This site is managed by Brian 'joe' Spibey from the City of Bath in the UK (more details on the contact page)

 

jazzonfilm.com bibliography

	Jammin’ at the Margins; Jazz and the American Cinema by Krin Gabbard (Chicago University Press 1996) One of the very best books on the subject
	Jazz on Film; The Complete Story of the Musicians and Music on Screen by Scott Yanow (Backbeat Books 2004) A very good guide to whats available
	The Soundies Book by Scott MacGillvray and Ted Okuda 1997 This is an updated version of 'The Soundies Distributing Corporation of America (1991)
	Body and Soul: Jazz and Blues in American Film 1927 - 63 by Peter Stanfield (University of Illinois 2005)
	Some Liked it Hot: Jazz Women in Film and Television, 1928-1959 Kristin McGee (Wesleyan University Press)
	Jazz in the Movies by David Meeker (BFI 1977 and Talisman Books Ltd 1981) The most comprehensive book on the subject but has not been updated for over twenty years
	Blacks in Black and White; a source book of black films by T. H. Samson (Metuchen New York 1977 1st edition (2nd edition??)
	Frame by Frame; a black filmography Vol1(1900 to 1977) and Vol 2 (1978 to 1994) by P.R. Klotman (Indiana University Press, Bloomington and London 1979 and 1997
	Duke Ellington: Day by Day and Film by Film Dr Klaus Strateman (Jazz Media 1992) The most comprehensive book about any jazz musicians film career
	Louis Armstrong on the Screen Dr Klaus Strateman (Jazz Media 1992) Another comprehensive book about Armstrong from the author of above
	The Films of Artie Shaw, Glen Miller, Tony Pastor and Stan Kenton by Dr Klaus Stratemann (der JAZZFREUND 1980)
	Negro Bands on Film Vol. 1 Big Bands 1928 -1950 an Exploratory Filmography by Dr Klaus Stratemann (Uhle & Kleimann, 1981)
	Black in the British Frame by Stephen Bourne (Continuum 2001)
	Black Magic: White Hollywood and African and American Culture by Krin Gabbard (Rutgers University Press 2004) Has excellent chapters on Thelonious Monk and Robert Altman's " Kansas City"
	Grove Dictionary of Jazz edited by Barry Kernfeld (Macmillan 1988 and 1994)
	A Separate Cinema Fifty years of black cast cinema by John Kisch and Edward Mapp (Noonday 1992)

Also
Monthly Film Bulletin
Sight and Sound
Jazz Journal International
Various Film Festival brochures including London, Cork, Toronto, Denver
Jazzwise magazine has jazz on film write ups including the latest DVD's