About this Site

Last update March 2010

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 news 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 informationand 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. Enter any jazz musician into youtube and there is a good chance someone has posted a clip of them.

You can email joe@jazzonfilm,com

This site is managed by Brian 'Joe' Spibey in the City of Bath, U.K.
Telephone +44 (0) 1225 314693 or write
12, Gordon Road, Bath, BA2 4NH, UK

jazzonfilm.com bibliography

Blacks in Black and White; a source book of black films
Bt T. H. Samson (Metuchen New York 1977 1st edition (2nd edition??)

Duke Ellington: Day by Day and Film by Film
Dr Klaus Strateman (Jazz Media 1992)

Louis Armstrong on the Screen
Dr Klaus Strateman (Jazz Media 1992)

Frame by Frame; a black filmography 1(1900 to 1977) and 2 (1978 to 1994)
P.R. Klotman (Indiana University Press, Bloomington and London 1979 and 1997)

Jammin’ at the Margins; Jazz and the American Cinema
Krin Gabbard (Chicago University Press 1996)
One of the very best books on the subject

Jazz in the Movies
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

Black in the British Frame
Stephen Bourne (Continuum 2001)

Black Magic: White Hollywood and African and American Culture
Krin Gabbard (Rutgers University Press 2004)
Has excellent chapters on Thelonious Monk and Robert Altman's " Kansas City"

Grove Dictionary of Jazz

Jazz on Film; The Complete Story of the Musicians and Music on Screen
Scott Yanow (Backbeat Books 2004)

Some Liked it Hot: Jazz Women in Film and Television,1928-1959
Kristin McGee (Wesleyan University Press)

K Jazz ( jazz on video) catalogue

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