Musicians

This page contains the film scope of the leading jazz musicians in the history of jazz. This is a recent addition to jazz on film and is still being built. Some of jazz' greatest figures never appeared on film and others such as Charlie Parker only have a few minutes of screen time to their name.
At present the following jazzers are featured on this page, but it is being added to, on a regular basis. (F) FEATURE FILM • (D) DOCU • (STO) SOUND TRACK ONLY. See these pages for more details on films

youtube.com has become an invaluable source of material. Enter most jazz musician into youtube and there is a good chance someone has posted a clip of them.

JOHN ABERCROMBIE (gtr) b.1944
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

PEPPER ADAMS (baritone sax)

CANNONBALL ADDERLEY (alto) b.1928 d. 1975
TV appearances with his group on US Jazz Scene and BBC Jazz 625 (see TV page}

NAT ADDERLEY (tpt)

TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI (pno & compsoer)

JOE ALBANY (pno) b.1924 d.1988
JOE ALBANY; A JAZZ LIFE (DVD available)
USA 1980 • 57 mins • Directed by Carole Langer ( below is a short of the DVD)

 

RED ALLEN (tpt) b.1906 d.1967
BBC Jazz 625 (see TV page) plus various youtube clips

MOSE ALLISON (pno / vocals) b.1927
Various clips can be seen on youtube

GENE AMMONS (tnr) b.1925 d.1974
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

CURTIS AMY (saxes) b. 1929 d. 2002
See Youtubes and Frankly Jazz on TV page

ALBERT AYLER (tnr) b.1936 d.1970
SPEAKING IN TONGUES: TRIBUTE TO ALBERT AYLER (see documentaries page)

LOUIS ARMSTRONG (tpt)b.1901 d.1971
Armstrong appeared in numerous documentaries, shorts, soundies and snaders

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (F)
USA 1936 • 80 mins • Directed by Norman Z McLeod

ATLANTIC CITY (F)
USA 1944 • 86 mins • Directed Ray MaCarey

ARTISTS AND MODELS
USA1937 • 97 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh

LA BOTTA E RIPOSTE
Italy 1949 • 80 mins • Directed by Aldo Soldati


EVERYDAY’S A HOLIDAY (F)
1937 • mins • Directed by A. Edward Sutherland

BEAT GENERATION (F)
USA 1959 • 93 mins • Directed by Charles Hass

BIRTH OF THE BLUES
USA 1941 • 86 mins • Directed by Victor Schertzinger

CABIN IN THE SKY (F)
USA1942 • 99 mins • Directed by Vincente Minnelli

EX-FLAME (F)
USA 1931 • 68 mins • Directed by Victor Halperin

THE FIVE PENNIES (F)
USA 1959 • 117 mins • Directed by Melville Shavelson

THE GLEN MILLER STORY (F)
USA 1953 • 116 mins • Directed by Anthony Mann

GLORY ALLEY (F)
USA 1952 • 77 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh

GOING PLACES (F)
USA 1938 • 84 mins • Directed by Ray Enright

HERE COMES THE GROOM (F)
USA 1951 • 114 mins • Directed by Frank Capra

HIGH SOCIETY (F)
USA 1956 • 107 mins • Directed by Charles Walters

JAM SESSION (F)
USA 1944 • 74 mins • Directed by Charles Barton

LA PALOMA
Germany 1959 • 100 mins • Directed by Paul Martin

KAERLIGHEDENS MELODI
Denmark 1959 • 87 mins • Directed by Bent Christensen

KOBENHAVEN, KALUNDBORG
Denmark 1934 • 70 mins • Directed by Ludvig Brandstrup and Holger Madsen

LA ROUTE DU BONHEUR (F)
FRENCH / ITALY 1952 • 92 mins • Directed by Maurice Labro and Georgio Simonelli

A MAN CALLED ADAM (F)
USA 1966 •103 mins • Directed by Leo Penn

NEW ORLEANS (F)
USA 1947 • 90 mins • Directed by Arthur Lubin

PARIS BLUES (F)
USA 1961 • 98 mins • Directed by Martin Ritt

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (F)
USA 1936 • 80 mins • Directed by Norman Z McLeod

PILLAR TO POST (F)
USA 1945 • 96 mins • Directed by Vincent Sherman
Below Louis plays along with Dorothy Dandridge

A SONG IS BORN (F)
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks

THE STRIP (F)
USA 1951 • 86 mins • Directed by Leslie Kardos

WHEN THE BOYS MEET THE GIRLS (F)
USA 1966 • 97 mins • Directed by Alvin Ganzer

JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (D)
USA • 1960 • 90 mins • Directed by Bert Stern

BUSTER BAILEY (cln) b.1902 d. 1967
can be seen on ART FORDS JAZZ PARTY (see documentaries page) Various clips can be seen on you tube

MILDRED BAILEY (vocals)
At present no film of Mildred has come to light

CHET BAKER (tpt)
LETS GET LOST & LAST DAYS OF CHET BAKER plus numerous live performances

COUNT BASIE (pno)
POLICY MAN (F)
USA 1938

REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY (F)
USA 1943 • 77 mins • Directed by Charles Barton

SIDNET BECHET ( cln / soprano sax)
AH! QUELLE EQUIPE (F)
France 1956 • 96mins • Directed Roland Quignon .

L’ INSPECTEUR CONNAIT LA MUSIQUE / BLUES (F)
France 1955 • 90 mins • Directed by Robert Mariaud

SIDNEY BECHET: TREAT IT GENTLE (D)
UK 1997 • 55 mins • Directed by Alan Lewens

BUNNY BERIGAN (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube
Below is a clip from a vitaphone short from 1934.

 

 

CHU BERRY (tnr) b.1908 d.1941
A great but forgotten player of the swing era. Below is a short video about him.

MARIE BRYANT (singer / dancer)
The singer on JAMMIN' THE BLUES and danced on the Ellington 'soundie' Bli- Blip. She also appeared in the movie THEY LIVE BY NIGHT as a nightclub singer

DONALD BYRD (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

BARNEY BIGARD (cln)
NEW ORLEANS (see features) Various clips can be seen on youtube

BIX BEIDERBECKE (tpt)
can be seen and not heard on an early film of Paul Whiteman ( see documentaries under BIX)

ART BLAKEY (drums)
numerous live performances available with his Messengers and Giants of Jazz
Below Art plays with Lee Morgan (tpt), Benny Golson (tnr) Bobby Timmons (pno ) Jymie Merritt (bass) in Belgium 1968

 

JIMMY BLANTON (bass)
At present no film has come to light

EUBIE BLAKE (pno)
Eubie was one of the first jazz musicians to be filmed in the 1920s.
He was still being filmed as he approached one hundred.
Various youtube clips (see blow)

 

CARLA BLEY (pno)
ESCALATOR OVER THE HILL
USA 1999 • 93 mins • Directed by Steve Gebhardt (see Documentaries)

PAUL BLEY (pno)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

RUBY BRAFF (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

MICHAEL BRECKER (tnr)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

BOB BROOKMEYER (valve tbn)
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (see documentaries page) plus various live footage and youtube clips (see JIm Hall on this page)

TINA BROOKS (tnr)
appears in Ray Charles in Brazil 1963 ( (DVD)

CLIIFORD BROWN (tpt)
No films at present known to exist apart from a mid 50's item with the Max Roach group, who co- led it with Clifford. To the best of my knowledge this is not available commercially .There is a poor quality youtube clip of Clifford on TV playing 'Lady be Good'

DAVE BRUBECK (pno)
ALL NIGHT LONG (F) BBC Jazz 625 etc. Plus youtube clips

CAB CALLOWAY (singer / bandleader)
With numerous shorts and feature films to his name Cab is very well represented on film.
Below from the film STORMY WEATHR Calloway performes with the great Nicholas Brothers

CANDOLI BROTHERS, CONTI & PETE (tpts)
The Candoli brothers are on the soundtrack of numerous Hollywood movies. Can be seen in BELL BOOK AND CANDLE. Also numerous youtube clips of live performances

BENNY CARTER (alto / tpt)
SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO (F)
USA • 1952 • 114 mins • Directed by Henry King

BENNY CARTER; SYMPHONY IN RIFFS
USA • 1989 • 58 mins • Directed by Harrison Engels
Film about one of jazz' s greatest figures and finest alto saxist with Gillespie, Lena Horn, Andre Previn, Clark Terry, David Sanborn, Stanley Jordan, Quincy Jones and narrated by Burt Lancaster

BETTY CARTER (vocals)
BUT THEN, SHES BETTY CARTER
USA 1980 • 53mins • Directed by Michelle Parkerson

CALL ME BETTY CARTER

LIVE AT THE MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

SERGE CHALOFF (bari sax)
youtube clip with Woodey Herman band

CHARLIE CHRISTIAN (gtr)
no film footage but a good documentary with SOLO FLIGHT

BUCK CLAYTON (tpt)
BORN TO SWING (see documentaries page) Various shorts and youtube clips
(below Buck is in a trumpet balttle with Charlie Shavers)

ARNETT COBB (tnr)
Numerous youclip clips of live footage (see below)

 

NAT KING COLE (pno / vocals)
KILLER DILLER
USA 1948 • 80 mins • Directed by Josh Binney
Black cast film featuring Nat 'King' Cole and the Andy Kirk Band

BREAKFAST IN HOLLYWOOD
USA 1946 • 90 mins • Directed by Harold Schuster
features the Nat 'King' Cole Trio

ST. LOUIS BLUES (F)
USA 1958 • 93 mins • Directed by Allen Reisner

Nat had a number of acting roles: The Blue Gardenia, China Gate, Night of the Quarter Moon, Cat Ballou

(see 'Soundies' on shorts page)

ORNETTE COLEMAN (alto / tpt / violin)
MADE IN AMERCA. Various live footage

JOHN COLTRANE (tnr / soprano sax)
COLTRANE LEGACY

JOHN COLTRANE; ST JOHN COLTRANE
UK 2003 • 40 mins • Directed by Lol Lovett

JOHN COLTRANE QUARTET IN BELGIUM

WORLD ACCORDING to JOHN COLTRANE

Various youtube clips

EDDIE CONDON (gtr / banjo)
Condon mades numerous short and TV appearances which over the years have all appeared on youtube.
Below Condon plays China Boy with Jack Teagarden, Bud Freeman, Pee Wee Russell, Gene Krupa, Bob Haggard, Joe Sullivan

 

CHICK COREA (pno)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

TADD DAMERON (pno)
At present no film of Tadd has come to light

MILES DAVIS (tpt)
LIFT TO THE SCAFFOLD / Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud (F) (STO)
France 1957 • 90 mins.• Directed by Louis Malle

DINGO (F)

SCROOGED (F)
USA 1988 • 101 mins • Directed Richard Donner

MILES AHEAD
USA 1986 • 60 mins • Directed by Mark Obenhaus
Portrait of Miles Davis with most of his associates being interviewed


MILES DAVIS STORY (D)
UK 2000 • 100 mins • Directed by Mike Dibb
Comprehensive film made for UK TV

MILES DAVIS (P)
USA 1959 • 28 mins •
Often seen footage of Miles with classic group of Coltrane, Kelly, Chambers and Cobb plus the Gil Evans Orchestra

MILES AND FRIENDS (D)
1991 • 60 mins

MILES ELECTRIC: A DIFFERENT KIND OF BLUE (D)
USA 2004 • 87 mins • Directed by Murray Lerner

VIV DICKENSON (tbn)
Various clips can be seen on youtube.
(below Vic plays the Jitterbug Waltz with Bobby Hackett)

 

DODDS , BABY (drums) & JOHNNY (cln)
At present no film has come to light

ERIC DOLPHY (alto / flute / bass clarinet)
see LAST DATE on documentaries page. Plus various youtube clips

KENNY DORHAM (tpt)

DORSEY BROTHERS, JIMMY (alto) and TOMMY (tbn)
THE FABULOUS DORSEYS • LAS VEGAS NIGHTS and numerous other features and shorts. see youtube and below

HARRY EDISON (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

ROY ELDRIDGE (tpt)
see AFTER HOURS on documentaries page .Plus various soundies

TEDDY EDWARDS (tnr)
LEGEND OF TEDDY EDWARDS (DVD available)
USA 2001 • 85 mins • Directed. by Don McGlynn. Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

DUKE ELLINGTON (pno)
Ellington appeared in numerous documentaries, shorts, soundies and Snaders( while this page is being built see other pages for details)

ANATOMY OF A MURDER (F)
USA 1959 • 160 mins • Directed by Otto Preminger

ASSAULT ON A QUEEN (STO)
USA 1966 • 106 mins • Directed by Jack Donohue

CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK (ABC)
Below USA 1937 • 78 mins • Directed by Gus Mains

MURDER AT THE VANITIES
USA 1934 • 87 mins • Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Below the Ellington band in less than serious mood

PARIS BLUES
USA 1961 • 98 mins • Directed by Martin Ritt

REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY
USA 1943 • 77 mins • Directed by Charles Barton

CHANGE OF MIND (STO)
USA 1969 • 98 mins • Directed by Robert Stevens

DON ELLIS (tpt, drummer and composer)
Youtube clips and ELECRIC HEART (see docusand trailer below)

 

BILL EVANS (pno)
THE UNIVERSAL MIND OF BILL EVANS
USA 1968 • 45 mins
Plus lots of live footasge with Miles Davis and his own trios

GIL EVANS (pno)
Can be seen on numerous youtube

LIONEL FERBOS (tpt)
One Nerw Orleans oldest musicians who just died this year (2014) at the age of 103. Lionel was still playing on a regular basis in New Orleans at 102

ELLA FITZGERALD (vocals)
See features
RIDE 'EM COWBOY

PETE KELLYS BLUES

LET KNOW MAN WRITE ON MY EPITAPH

also

ELLA FITZGERALD; SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR
USA 1999 • 89 mins • Directed by Charlotte Zwern

FOREVER ELLA


ELLA FITZGERALD
UK 1964 (TV) • 47 mins • Directed by Philip Casson


ELLA FITZGERALD
USA 1966 (TV) • 52 mins

ELLA FITZGERALD IN LONDON
UK 1965 • 45 mins • (p)

Various clips can be seen on youtube

ART FARMER (tpt)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips.
Below Art plays with Steve Swallow (bass), jim Hall (gtr) and Pete La Rocca (drums)

 

TAL FARLOW (gtr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

VICTOR FELDMAN (pno / vibes / drums)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

FIRE HOUSE FIVE PLUS TWO
Numerous ‘Snaders’ (see shorts page)

BUD FREEMAN (tnr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips (below he is playing with Art Hodeson piano)

SLIM GAILLARD (gtr / pno / vocals)
HELLZAPOPPIN
USA 1941 • 83 mins • Directed by H C Potter
plus various live footage on youtube

 

JAN GARTBAREK (saxes)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

ERROL GARNER (pno)
various live footage including BBC Jazz 625

STAN GETZ (tnr)
various live footage including BBC Jazz 625

DIZZY GILLESPIE (tpt)
Varoius documentaries and live footage (see docu page)

BENNY GOODMAN (cln)
BIG BROADCAST OF 1937 (F)
USA 1936 • 99 mins • Directed by Mitchell Leisen

HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (F)
USA 1937 • 101 mins • Directed by Busby Berkeley

POWERS GIRL (F)
USA 1942 • 94 mins • Directed by Norman Z. Mcleod (see below)

 

BENNY GOODMAN STORY (STO)
USA 1955 • 116 mins • Directed by Valentine Davies
No Goodman in this bio but he did all the ghosting for Steve Allen

STAGE DOOR CANTEEN
USA •1943
Features the Goodman band with Jess Stacy (pno), Louis Bellson (drums) Dave Barbour (gtr), Conrad Gozzo (tpt) Also the Count Basie orchestra

THE GANGS ALL HERE
USA • 1943 • 104 mins
Features Jess Stacy, Miff Mole, Louis Bellson

SWEET AND LOWDOWN
USA • 1944 • 76 mins
Features Stacy, Zoot Sims (tnr), Bill Harris (tbn),

SYNCOPATION
USA 1942 • 88 mins • Directed by William Dieterle

A SONG IS BORN
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks

BENNY GOODMAN; ADVENTURES IN THE KINGDOM OF SWING (D)
USA 1993 • 60 MINS • Directed by Oren Jacoby

BENNY GOODMAN IN THE SOVIET UNION (C)
RUSSIA 1962 • 18 mins

DEXTOR GORDON (tnr)
nuumerous footage of live performances. MORE THAN YOU KNOW ( see documentaries page) plus ROUND MIDNIGHT. (see features) See also COOL CATS on the documentaries page

STEPPHANE GRAPPELLI (violin )
LIFE IN THE JAZZ CENTURY ( see documentaries page) Various TV shows and film clips on youtube.

WARDELL GRAY (tnr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips with the Count Basie Septet

JOHNNY GRIFFIN (tnr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

MARTY GROSZ
Various youtube clips

 

JIMMY GIUFFREI (tnr)
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY ( see documentaries page )plus youtube clips

CHARLI HAYDEN (bass)
Various youtube clips

BOBBY HACKETT(tpt)
Various TV shows and film clips on youtube.

AL HAIG (pno)Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

EDMOND HALL (cln)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

JIM HALL
JIM HALL: A LIFE IN PROGRESS
USA 1998 • 60 mins • Directed by Bruce Ricker
Below Jim plays' I Should Care' with Bob Brookmeyer at the Bath Festival, UK in 1987

 

CHICO HAMILTON (drums)
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS ( see features page ) • DANCING TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER ( see documentaries page )

SCOTT HAMILTON (tnr sax)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

LIONEL HAMPTON (vibes, drums piano)
MR ROCK AND ROLL (F),
USA 1957 • 74 mins • Directed by Charles Dubin

BENNY GOODMAN STORY (F)
USA 1955 • 116 mins • Directed by Valentine Davies

A SONG IS BORN (F)
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks

Various shorts, live performances and numerous 'snaders' (see shorts) Below Lionel performs on the Patti Page TV Show from 1957

 

HERBIE HANCOCK (pno)
ROUND MIDNIGHT plus various live footage

HAMPTON HAWES (pno)
Variousyoutube clips

COLEMAN HAWKINS (tnr)
AFTER HOURS (D)

THE CRIMSON CANARY (F)
USA 1945 • 64 mins • Directed by John Hoffman
Coleman Hawkins, Howard McGee, Sir Charles Thompson , Oscar Pettiford and Densil Best appear on screen but for some strange reason other jazzers ghost the sound track . See features page for movie clip

Below is Coleman Hawkin's first sreen appearance

 

HEATH BOTHERS, JIMMY (saxes), PERCY (bass) & ALBERT (drums)
BROTHERLY JAZZ:THE HEATH BROTHER (DVD available)
USA 2006 • 70 mins • Directed by Jesse Block
Variousyoutube clips

ERSKINE HAWKINS (tpt and bandleader)

FLETCHER HENDERSON (pno)
At present no film has come to light. ( members of his orcherstra appear with Bessie Smith in the short ST LOUIS BLUES)

WOODY HERMAN (cln)
WOODY HERMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
USA 1938 • 9mins • Directed by Roy Mack
with vocalist Lee Wiley
WOODY HERMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA ( see UI pictures on shorts page fre clip)
USA 1948 • 15 mins • Directed by Will Cowan
WOODY HERMAN'S VARIETIES
USA 1951 • 15 mins

Various youtube clips

ANDREW HILL (pno)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

EARL HINES (pno)
Numerous clips and DVD's of Hines including the wonderful documentary EARL 'FATHA' HINES from 1975. (see doucumentaties) Below Hine is playing "Memories of You"

 

JOHNNY HODGES (alto)
Numerous clips and DVD's of Hodges with the Duke Ellington Orchestra are available.
Below he is featured with the Ellington band playing 'All of Me'

BILLY HOLIDAY (vocals)
NEW ORLEANS (F)
USA 1947 • 90 mins • Directed by Arthur Lubin ( below Billy is singing 'The Blues are Brewin' with Louis Armstrong fom the film)

LADY SINGS THE BLUES (F)
USA 1972 • 144 mins • Directed by Sidney Furie

LADY DAY ;The Many Faces of Billie Holiday (D)
USA 1991 • 60 mins • Directed by Matthew Sieg

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL
USA 1994 • 60 mins • Directed by Rochelle Calhoun
Film version of the stage play with Kimberly Herbert in the role of Holiday

FREDDIE HUBBARD (tpt)
LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD
USA 1982 • 59 MINS•

DICK HYMAN (pno)
Dick Hyman has been musical director on numerousWoody Allen films as well as appearing in numerous documentariesand educational videos.

ABDULLAH IBRAHAM formerly DOLLAR BRAND
A BROTHER WITH PERFECT TIMING
USA • 90mins • Directed by Chris Austin

PETER IND (bass)
see UK musicians

MILT JACKSON (vibes)
various live performances with ther MJQ
Below from 1986 Milt plays with Ceder Walton(pno), Billy Higgins(drums), Buster Williams(bass)

 

AHMAD JAMAL (piano)

HARRY JAMES (tpt and bandleader)
Various Hollywood movies,TV appearances and shorts.

KEITH JARRETT (pno)
Lots of live concert footage

BUNK JOHNSON
Some silent home movies do exist and have been issued on a DVD called ' The Rarest New Orleans Jazz' along with dozens of New Orleans veterans including George Lewis, Alton Purnell, Jim Robinson, Kid Thomas

CEE PEE JOHNSON (percussionist)
Little known west coast musician. Appeared IN HELLZAPOPPIN’ BIRTH OF THE BLUES  MYSTERY IN SWING plus the 'Soundies', SWING FOR YOUR SUPPER, JIG IN THE JUNGLE ( both with Dorothy Dandridge, see below)

 

J. J. JOHNSON (tbn)
various youtube clips The sextet ones feature Sonny Stitt and Howerd Mcghee

JAMES P, JOHNSON (pno)

ELVIN JONES (drums)
Lots of live film from John Coltrane onwards

JO JONES (drums)
Can be seen in numerous Count Basie films plus the great documentary BORN TO SWING

JONAH JONES (tpt)
various youtube clips

QUINCY JONES(tpt / arranger )
various youtube clips

DUKE JORDAN (pno)
various youtube clips
Below Duke plays solo 'Tea for Two' and 'Stardust' in1993

 

LOUIS JORDAN ( alto sax & vocals)
BEWARE
REET, PETITE AND GONE
LOOK OUT SISTER
various youtube clips and feature films. ( see black cast page and 'soundies' on the shorts page)

SHEILA JORDAN (vocals)
various youtube clips

STAN KENTON (pno / band leader)
Radio Melodies
USA • 1943 • 15 mins

Artistry in Rhythm
USA • 1944 • 20 mins

Two Guys from Milwaukee
USA • 1946 • 91 mins • Directed by David Butler

Lets Make Rhythm •
USA • 1947 • 20 mins

Rhythm Masters / A Decade of Band Hits •
USA • 1948 • 15 mins

Jazz Festival •
USA • 1949 •
Featuring Kenton, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole

Schlagerparade
W. Germany • 1953 • 95 mins

Docus

DIZZY GILLESPIE • USA • 1964
Gillespie seen in rehearsal with the Kenton Orchestra
THE SUBSTANCE OF JAZZ •  USA • 1968 • 18 mins
BOUND TO BE HEARD • USA • 1972 • 52 mins
Both the above films directed by Baldwin Baker Jr

Various 'snaders' (see shorts)

JOHN KIRBY (bass)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

ROLAND KIRK (saxes)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

LEE KONITZ (alto)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

MANNY KLEIN (tpt) b.1908 d. 1904
Manny can be heartd on hundreds of Hollywood soundtracks (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (ghosts the bugle for Montgomery cliff )• On RIO BRAVO his playing is prominent on most of the soundtrack )and can be seen early his life in swing bands on youtube

LEE KONITZ (alto)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips. below Lee at New York's Half Note with Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh

 

GENE KRUPA (drums)
numerous Hollywood films (see Benny Goodman) Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

SCOTT LaFARO (bass) below is the 1958 TV show 'Stars of Jazz' show featuring the Richie Kamuca Quintet

DAVE LAMBERT (vocals)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips.

EDDIE LANG (gtr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips. Below with 'torch" singer Ruth Etting, who was played by Doris Day in the fities movie Love Me or Leave Me (1955)

 

 

STAN LEVY (drums)

 

GEORGE LEWIS (cln)
various youtube clips

MEL LEWIS (drums / band leader)

BOOKER LITTLE (tpt)
At present no film has come to light

JIMMY LUNCEFORD (alto / band leader)

HUMPHREY LYTTLETON (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube. Also narrates BORN TO SWING (see documentaries page)
Ghosted the trumpet for John Mills in the film ITS GREAT TO BE YOUNG (see features)

MACHITO ( Latin drums/ bandleader)
MACHITO; A Latin Jazz Legacy
various youtube clips

JACKIE McLEAN
JACKIE McLEAN ON MARS
USA 1979 • 30 mins • Directed by Ken Lenvis (see documentaries page)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

CARMEN McRAE (vocals)

HOWERD McGHEE (tpt)
Great stuff on youtube with Sonny Stitt sextet. Also the film the 'Crimson Canary' (see features)

JOHN McLAUGHLIN (gtr)

JOHNNY MANDEL (tbn / composer / arranger)
Played with most of the major big bands during the forties. Became more well known for film scores and jazz standards

HERBIE MANN (flute)

SHELLY MANNE (drums) Numerous TV clips on youtube. THE MAN WITH GOLDEN ARM (see features)
Played the drummer Dave Tough in THE FIVE PENNIES and THE GENE KRUPA STORY (aka; DRUM CRAZY) Below Shelly with his regular quintet with Conti Candoli, Richie Kamuca, Monty Budwig and Russ Freeman

 

BRANFORD MARSALIS (tnr)

WYNTON MARSALIS(tpt)
CATCHING A SNAKE (see docus) Can also be seen on numerous youtube clips

PAT METHENY (gtr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

MEZZ MEZZROW (cln)

GLEN MILLER (tbn)
BEN POLLACK and his Orchestra • USA • 1934 • 9 mins
With Matty Matlock, Glen Miller, Charlie Spivak, Ray Bauduc (drums)

Sun Valley Serenade • USA • 1941 • 86 mins
With Glen Miller (tbn), Tex Beneke (tnr), Ray Anthony (tpt), Ernie Caceres (alto)
Below is the Miller band playing 'In the Mood'

 

Orchestra Wives • USA • 1942 • 98 mins
With Glen Miller, Billy May (tpt) Tex Beneke (tnr), Ernie Caceres (alto)

CHARLIE MINGUS (bass)
ALL NIGHT LONG (F)
UK 1961 • 95 mins • Directed Michael Relph

CHARLES MINGUS Triumph of the Underdog (D)
USA 1997 • 78 mins • Directed by Don McGlynn

CHARLIE MINGUS : JAZZ WORKSHOP IN OSLO (D)
Norway 1964 • 58 mins •
Below Mingus playswith Eric Dolphy (alto & Bass Clt) Clifford Jordan( tnr ) Johnny Coles (tpt) Jaki Byard( pno) Dannie Richmond ( drums) in Norway 1964

 

HANK MOBLEY (tnr)
appeared on a Danish TV in a film about Montmartre, the famous Copenhagen Jazz Club

THELONIUS MONK (pno)
Various documentaries and live performances

WES MONTGOMERY

JAMES MOODY (tnr)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

LEE MORGAN (tpt)
Various clips can be seen on youtube with Art Blakey

JELLY ROLL MORTON (pno)
No known footage

GERRY MULLIGAN (bari sax)
THE SUBTERRANEANS (F)
USA 1960 • 1960 • Directed by Ranald MacDougal

RAT RACE (F)
USA 1960 • 100 mins • Directed by Robert Mulligan

I WANT TO LIVE (F)
USA • 1958 • 120 mins • Directed by Robert Wise

JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (D)
USA • 1960 • 90 mins • Directed by Bert Stern

plus various youtube clips

DAVID MURRAY (tnr)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

FATS NAVARRO (tpt)
At present no film has come to light

ALBERT NICHOLAS (cln)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips( below with Bill Coleman)

RED NICHOLS (tpt)
Various shorts. Numerous ‘Snaders’ (see shorts page)
Red also ghosted the cornet for Danny Kaye in THE FIVE PENNIES, Hollywoods version of his life story. (see below)

 

RED NORVO (vibes)
Red Norvo Trio in the film 'Screaming Mimi' (see features)

 

ANITA O'DAY (vocals)

KING OLIVER (tpt)
No known footage

ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND
Made an appearance in an early silent film. THE GOOD FOR NOTHING (1917) Perhaps the first appearance of a jazz group on film

KID ORY (tbn)

CHARLIE PARKER (alto)
JAMMIN' (aka J.A.T.P.) (available on DVD as Norman Grants Improvistion)
1950 • 11mins • Directed by Gjon Mili plus TV clip of Parker and Gillespie playing Hot House

JACKIE PARIS (vocals)

TONY PASTOR (sax / vocals / bandleader)
Tony Pastor and his Orchestra • USA • 1948 • 18 mins

Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
USA • 1948 • 8 mins
With Rosemary Clooney (vocals)

Soundies and 'snaders' (see shorts)

ART PEPPER (alto)
NOTES ON A JAZZ SURVIVER (See documentaries page)

OSCAR PETERSON (pno)
See documentaries and TV pages

MICHEL PETRUCCIANI (pno)

BUD POWEL (pno)
Below Bud plays in the early sixties with Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass)
Jorn Elnif (drums) at the Café Montmartre, Copenhagen.

 

 

ANDRE PREVIN (piano)
Below Andre plays along with the great Oscar Peterson

 

FREDDIE REDD (pno)

DJANGO REINHARDT (gtr)
A number of short clips often appear on youtube. See documentary A LIFE IN THE JAZZ CENTURY

BUDDY RICH (drums)
In a drum battle with Gene Krupa in 1966

 

MAX ROACH (drums)

SHORTY ROGERS(tpt)
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM plus various TV and appears on various movie soundtracks.

ADRIAN ROLLINI (bass sax and vibes)
below Adrian plays the vibes in the late thirties

 

SONNY ROLLINS (tnr)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

JIMMY RUSHING (vocals)
Various youtube clips and 'soundies' (see shorts) Below Jimmy is backed by Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, Roy Eldridge etc.

 

GEORGE RUSSELL(pno)

PEE WEE RUSSELL (cln)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

RONNIE SCOTT (tnr)
See UK jazz musicians

CHARLIE SHAVERS (tpt)

ARTIE SHAW (cln)
Artie Shaw and his Orchestra • USA • 1939 • 9 mins.With Tony Pastor (tnr and Vocals)

Artie Shaw’s Class in Swing • USA • 1939 • 10 mins
With Buddy Rich, Helen Forrest (vcls) Georgie Auld and Tony Pastor (tnr and Vocals)

Dancing Co-Ed • USA • 1939 • 84 mins
Same personnel as above

Second Chorus • USA • 1940 • 83 min

Artie Shaw: Time is All You’re Got • USA • 1986 •  115 mins
Oscar winning docu by Brigitte Berman. Interviews with Buddy Rich, Mel Torme, Helen Forrest

Artie Shaw and his Orchestra in Symphony in Swing • USA • 1939 •10 mins
Same personnel as above. Below, Helen Forrest sings Deep Purple.

 

GEORGE SHEARING (pno)
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY • Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

WAYNE SHORTER (tnr) Various clips can be seen on youtube

HORACE SILVER (pno)
Can be seen on numerous youtube clips

ZOOT SIMS (tnr)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

NOBLE SISSLE
Can be seen in the company of Eubie Blake on some of the earliest jazz films ever made . ( below a film from 1923 of them both)

BESSIE SMITH (vocals)
ST LOUIS BLUES (1927) See shorts page

STUFF SMITH (violin)

 

WILLIE ' The Lion' SMITH (pno)

 

CHARLIE SHAVERS (tpt)
Plenty of youtube clips. Below with Ben Webster

 

SONNY STITT (alto / tnr )
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY • Various clips can be seen on youtube

ART TATUM (pno)
THE ART OF JAZZ PIANO (docu)
THE FABULOUS DORSEYS (F)
USA 1947 • 87 mins • Directed by Alfred Green
Below is one of very few clips of Tatum with his trio playing 'Tiny's Exercise

 

THE FABULOUS DORSEYS (F)
USA 1947 • 87 mins • Directed by Alfred Green

CECIL TAYLOR(pno)
See documentaries and youtube

JACK TEAGARDEN
GLORY ALLEY (F
USA 1952 • 77 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh

(see 'Snaders' on shorts page)

THE GLASS WALL (F)
USA 1953 • 80 mins • Directed by Maxwell Shane

BIRTH OF THE BLUES (F)
USA 1941 • 86 mins • Directed by Victor Schertzinger

THE STRIP (F)
USA 1951 • 86 mins • Directed by Leslie Kardos

JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (D)
USA • 1960 • 90 mins • Directed by Bert Stern

Below Jack plays 'Lover" on the 1956 TV show 'Stars of Jazz'

 

CLARK TERRY (tpt)
From early Count Basie groups to the nineties Clark can be found on nunerous DVDs and numerous youtube clips

CHARLES TOLLIVER (tpt)
Lots of footage on youtube of this post bop trumpet man

MEL TORME (vocals)
Live DVD's and numerous youtube clips

LENNIE TRISTANO (pno)
Live in Copenhagen. See doucumentaries page

TURRENTINE BROS. STANLEY (tnr) & TOMMY (tpt)
Plenty of youtube clips of Stanley but very few of Tommy

McCOY TYNER(pno)
numerous youtube clips

WARREN VACHE (tpt)
Plenty of live footage available plus starring role in the feature THE GIG (see features) He also appeared in CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS

SARAH VAUGHAN (vocals)
Lots of TV and live footage clips plus the great documentary 'THE DEVINE ONE'

FATS WALLER (pno)
STORMY WEATHER (ABC)
USA 1943 • 78 mins • Directed by Andrew Stone
see Shorts page for 'soundies' and 'snaders'

HOORAY FOR LOVE
USA 1935 • 75 mins • Directed by Walter Lang
with Bill Robinson

See 'Snaders' on the shorts page

CHICK WEBB (drums)
Can be seen very briefly in After Seven ( see shorts) An early 1929 short

BEN WEBSTER (tnr)
See Ben Webster on docu page plus youtube. Also COOL CATS on documentaries page

MARY LOU WILLIAMS (pno)
youtube clips of Mary later in her life but very little on film of her early career

TONY WILLIAMS (drums)
ONE NIGHT WITH BLUE NOTE (D) and various Miles Davis combinations

TEDDY WILSON (pno)
BENNY GOODMAN STORY (F) Soundies and live footage including Goodman combinations (see below)

PHIL WOODS (alto)
Various clips can be seen on youtube

LESTER YOUNG (tnr)
Jammin' the Blues • JATP •. Song of the Spirit: The Story of Lester Young. See doucumentaries page