Spotlight On... All That Jazz!

--by CQL Staff

April is "Jazz Appreciation Month" so, in appreciation, we are highlighting footage from our film collection featuring jazz greats. The first section showcases the Jazz Icons series, while the second section focuses on jazz biography and history. The third section mentions two full-length fiction films related to jazz and jazz musicians.

Jazz Icons (Series 1-3)

Jazz Icons is an ongoing DVD series featuring full-length concerts and in-studio performances by the greatest legends of jazz, filmed all over the world from the 1950s to the 1970s. Transferred from the original masters, each of these DVDs features rare performances that have never been officially released (on home video) and in many cases, were never broadcast. Each DVD is produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates. The Copper Queen Library's collection includes Series 1-3, and the newly-released Series 4 is now on order.

Information about each film includes the location(s) of performances as well as the name of each piece played.

Cannonball Adderley: Live in '63 - Switzerland 1963: Jessica’s Birthday, Angel Eyes, Jive Samba, Bohemia After Dark, Dizzy’s Business, Trouble In Mind, Work Song, Unit 7; Germany 1963: Jessica’s Birthday, Brother John, Jive Samba (Series 3)

Louis Armstrong: Live in '59 - Belgium 1959: When It’s Sleepy Time Down South, (Back Home Again In) Indiana, Basin Street Blues, Tiger Rag, Now You Has Jazz, Love Is Just Around The Corner, C’Est Si Bon, Mack The Knife, Stompin’ At The Savoy, St. Louis Blues, Ko-Ko-Mo (I Love You So), When The Saints Go Marching In, La Vie En Rose (Series 1)

Chet Baker: Live in '64 & '79 - Belgium 1964: Bye Bye Blackbird, Isn’t It Romantic, Airegin, Time After Time, So What; Norway 1979: Interview, Blue Train, Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise, Five Years Ago, Love For Sale (Series 1)

Count Basie: Live in '62 - Sweden 1962: Easin’ It, You’re Too Beautiful, Corner Pocket, Stella By Starlight, Back To The Apple, I Needs To Be Bee’d With, I Got Rhythm, Back Water Blues, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Old Man River, One O’Clock Jump (Series 1)

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Live in '58 - Belgium 1958: Just By Myself, Moanin’, I Remember Clifford, It’s You Or No One, Whisper Not, A Night In Tunisia, NY Theme (Series 1)

Bonus Disc (Series 2) - John Coltrane (Sweden 1962): I Want To Talk About You; Dexter Gordon (Norway 1964): I Want More; Dave Brubeck (Finland 1964): Unisphere; Sarah Vaughan (Sweden 1967): The Shadow Of Your Smile, What Now My Love, I Had A Ball

Bonus Disc (Series 3) - Sonny Rollins (Sweden 1959): Interview, It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), Paul’s Pal, Love Letters; (Holland 1959): I’ve Told Every Little Star, I Want To Be Happy, A Weaver Of Dreams; Rashaan Roland Kirk (Belgium 1963): Stolen Moments, Everything Happens To Me, Domino, Three For The Festival; Nina Simone (Sweden 1963): Love Me Or Leave Me, Interview, Mississippi Goddam

Dave Brubeck: Live in '64 & '66 - Belgium 1964: St. Louis Blues, Koto Song, Three To Get Ready, In Your Own Sweet Way, Take Five; Germany 1966: Take The ‘A’ Train, Forty Days, I’m In A Dancing Mood, Koto Song, Take Five (Series 2)

John Coltrane: Live in '60, '61 & '65 - Germany 1960: On Green Dolphin Street, Walkin’, The Theme, Autumn Leaves, What’s New, Autumn In NY, Hackensack; Germany 1961: My Favorite Things, Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye, Impressions; Belgium 1965: Vigil, Naima, My Favorite Things (Series 2)

Duke Ellington: Live in '58 - Holland 1958: Black And Tan Fantasy, Creole Love Call, The Mooch, Harlem Air Shaft, My Funny Valentine, Kinda Dukish/Rockin’ In Rhythm, Mr. Gentle And Mr. Cool, Jack The Bear, All Of Me, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, Hi-Fi-Fo-Fum, Sophisticated Lady, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me, Don’t You Know I Care, In A Sentimental Mood, Mood Indigo, I’m Beginning To See The Light, Caravan, I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good, It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), Solitude, I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (Series 2)

Bill Evans: Live '64 -'75 - Sweden 1964: My Foolish Heart, Israel; Belgium 1965: Detour Ahead, My Melancholy Baby; Denmark 1970: Emily, Alfie, Someday My Prince Will Come; Sweden 1970: f You Could See Me Now, ’Round Midnight, Someday My Prince Will Come, Sleepin’ Bee, You’re Gonna Hear From Me, Re: Person I Knew; Denmark 1975: Sareen Jurer, Blue Serge, Up With The Lark, But Beautiful, Twelve Tone Tune Two (Series 3)

Ella Fitzgerald: Live in '57 & '63 - Belgium 1957: Angel Eyes, Lullaby Of Birdland, Love For Sale, Tenderly, April In Paris, Just One Of Those Things, Roll ‘Em Pete, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing); Sweden 1963: No Moon At All, Just One Of Those Things, Runnin’ Wild, Georgia On My Mind, Desafinado, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, Mack The Knife (Series 1)

Dizzy Gillespie: Live in '58 & '70 - Belgium 1958: Blues After Dark, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Loverman, Cocktails For Two, Blues Walk; Denmark 1970: Con Alma, The Brother K, Now Hear My Meanin’, Manteca, Let Me Outta Here, Things Are Here (Series 1)

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.. . Dexter Gordon: Live in '63 & '64 - Switzerland 1963: Second Balcony Jump, You’ve Changed; Holland 1964: A Night In Tunisia, What’s New, Blues Walk; Belgium 1964: Lady Bird, Body And Soul (Series 2) .

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Lionel Hampton: Live in '58 - Belgium 1958: The High & The Mighty, Hamp’s Piano Blues, History Of Jazz, Hot Club Blues, I Found A New Baby, The Chase (Part I & II), Brussels Sprouts, Sticks Ahoy, Gladys (Series 3)

Quincy Jones: Live in '60 - Belgium 1960: Birth Of A Band, Moanin’, Lester Leaps In, The Gypsy, Tickle Toe, Everybody’s Blues, Big Red; Switzerland 1960: Birth Of A Band, I Remember Clifford, Walkin’, Parisian Thoroughfare, The Midnight Sun Will Never Set, Everybody’s Blues, Stockholm Sweetnin’, My Reverie, Ghana, Big Red (Series 1)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Live in '63 & '67 - Belgium 1963: Moon Song, Lover, Three For The Festival, Yesterdays, Milestones; Holland 1963: Bags' Groove, Lover Man, There Will Never Be Another You, Three For The Festival; Norway 1967: Blues For Alice, Blue Rol, The Shadow Of Your Smile (Theme from The Sandpiper), Making Love After Hours, NY Theme (Series 3)

Charles Mingus: Live in '64 - Belgium 1964: So Long Eric, Peggy’s Blue Skylight, Meditations On Integration; Norway 1964: So Long Eric, Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk, Parkeriana, Take The “A” Train; Sweden 1964: So Long Eric, Meditations On Integration (Series 2)

Thelonious Monk: Live in '66 - Norway 1966: Lulu’s Back In Town, Blue Monk, ‘Round Midnight; Denmark 1966: Lulu’s Back In Town, Don’t Blame Me, Epistrophy (Series 1)

.. ... .. Wes Montgomery: Live in '65 - Holland 1965: I Love Blues, Nica’s Dream, "Love Affair" Rehearsal, The End Of A Love Affair; Belgium 1965: Impressions, Twisted Blues, Here’s That Rainy Day, Jingles, Boy Next Door; England 1965: Four On Six, Full House, Here’s That Rainy Day, Twisted Blues, West Coast Blues (Series 2)

. .Oscar Peterson: Live in '63, '64, & '65 - Sweden 1963: Reunion Blues, Satin Doll, But Not For Me, It Ain’t Necessarily So, Chicago (That Toddling Town); Denmark 1964: Soon, On Green Dolphin Street, Bags' Groove, Tonight, C-Jam Blues, Hymn To Freedom; Finland 1965: Yours Is My Heart Alone, (Mack The Knife) Moritat, Blues For Smedley, Misty, Mumbles (Series 3)

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Buddy Rich: Live in '78 - Holland 1978: Ya Gotta Try, Little Train, Best Coast, Grand Concourse, ‘Round Midnight, Birdland, Channel One Suite, Big Swing Face (Series 1)

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Sonny Rollins: Live in '65 & '68 - Denmark 1965: There Will Never Be Another You, St. Thomas Oleo/Sonnymoon For Two, Darn That Dream, Three Little Words; Denmark 1968: On Green Dolphin Street, St. Thomas, Four (Series 3)

. . . Nina Simone: Live in '65 & '68 - Holland 1965: Brown Baby, Four Women, The Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Tomorrow Is My Turn, Images, Go Limp, Mississippi Goddam; England 1968: Go To Hell, Ain't Got No/I Got Life, Backlash Blues, I Put A Spell On You, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead) (Series 3)

Sarah Vaughan: Live in '58 & '64 - Sweden 1958: Sometimes I’m Happy, Lover Man, September In The Rain, Mean To Me, Tenderly, If This Isn’t Love; Holland 1958: Over The Rainbow, They All Laughed, Lover Man, Cherokee, Sometimes I’m Happy; Sweden 1964: I Feel Pretty, The More I See You, Baubles, Bangles And Beads, I Got Rhythm, Misty, Honeysuckle Rose, Maria, Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home (Series 2)

Other Jazz Non-Fiction Films

Blue Note: A Story of Modern Jazz - This is the story of Blue Note Records, the jazz record company founded in 1939 by German refugees Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff. The history of the company has been intimately linked with the evolution of jazz music and the development of jazz musicians ever since. Includes many recordings of live performances by Blue Note artists as well as interviews of staff, performers and critics. Illustrated with photos by Francis Wolff. Guests and players include Albert Ammons & Pete Johnson (1939); Bud Powell, Copenhagen (1962); John Coltrane, Baden-Baden (1962); Dexter Gordon, Copehagen (1965); Freddie Hubbard, Copehagen (1965); Horace Silver, Copehagen (1965); Sonny Rollins, Copehagen (1965); Thelonious Monk, Copehagen (1966); Art Blakey, Copehagen (1968); Elvin Jones, Copehagen (1968); Town Hall concert, New York City (1985); Cassandra Wilson, Stuttgart (1996); Junko Onishi, Stuttgart (1996); and The Blue Note All Stars, Stuttgart (1996).

. Jazz (Ken Burns) - Although it has its detractors, Ken Burns' documentary explores the history of jazz from its beginnings through the 1990s, including the stories of many of its creators and performers. Includes archival video, still photographs, historical performances, and newly recorded interviews and musical performances. Episode 1. Gumbo -- Episode 2. The gift -- Episode 3. Our language -- Episode 4. The true welcome -- Episode 5. Swing: pure pleasure -- Episode 6. Swing: the velocity of celebration -- Episode 7. Dedicated to chaos -- Episode 8. Risk -- Episode 9. The adventure -- Episode 10. A masterpiece by midnight

One Night with Blue Note: The Historic All-Star Reunion Concert - An evening of jazz music performed by several major artists in celebration of the spirit of Blue Note Records. Includes performances by Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Hancock, Walter Davis, Jr., Ron Carter, Reggie Workman, Cecil McBee, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Jack DeJohnette, Art Blakey, Stanley Jordan, Curtis Fuller, James Newton, Charles Lloyd, Jackie McLean, Michel Petrucciani, Woody Shaw, Jimmy Smith, Grady Tate, Cecil Taylor, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Grover Washington, Jr., and Tony Williams.

Thelonious Monk, Straight No Chaser - Filmmaker Bruce Ricker couldn't believe his luck. Michael and Christian Blackwood's extensive 1968 footage of the groundbreaking modern jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, including the only footage of the very private Monk off stage, was in excellent condition. The reels were, in Ricker's words, "just sitting there like the Dead Sea Scrolls of jazz." Ricker, as co-producer, joins director and fellow producer Charlotte Zwerin (Gimme Shelter), executive producer Clint Eastwood and others to bring these scrolls to astonishing life, combining the Blackwoods' rare footage of Monk in studio on tour and behind the scenes with new interviews, archival photos and more to create a landmark aural and visual treat.Tunes in order of appearance: Evidence; Rhythm-a-ning; On the Bean; Round Midnight; Well, You Needn't; Bright Mississippi; Blue Monk; Trinkle, Tinkle; Rhythm-a-ning; Ugly Beauty; Ask Me Now; Just a Gigolo; Crepuscule with Nellie; I Should Care; We See; Osaka T.; Evidence; Epistrophy, Don't Blame Me; Ruby, My Dear; I Mean You; Lulu's Back in Town; Off Minor; Pannonica; Boo Boo's Birthday; Misterioso; Monk's Mood; Sweetheart of All My Dreams; Round Midnight. (VHS)

'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris - In 1991, filmmaker Raymond De Felitta heard a singer named Jackie Paris on a Los Angeles radio station and began a search that first yielded the fact that Paris had died in 1977. In 2004, De Felitta discovered Paris was alive and making a comeback in a New York City nightclub. This biographical film explores the life of the jazz singer, along with an exploration into what it is to live the life of an artist in its least glamorous aspects. Includes interviews with jazz legends including Billy Taylor, James Moody, Anne Marie Moss, Mark Murphy, George Wein, and others; featuring the musical performances of Jackie Paris.

Jazz Fiction Films

Bird - Forest Whitaker portrays the life of legendary jazz musician Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, as directed and produced by jazz fan Clint Eastwood. The film uses actual recordings by Parker (with the backgrounds removed) and accompaniment by modern musicians attuned to the Yardbird's improvisations.

'Round Midnight - Inside the Blue Note nightclub one night in 1959 Paris, an aged ailing jazzman coaxes an eloquent wail from his tenor sax. Outside, a young Parisian too broke to buy a glass of wine strains to hear those notes. Soon, they form a friendship that sparks a final burst of genius in the fading musician. Inspired by the real-life friendship between jazz pianist Bud Powell and Francis Paudras, the cast includes Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, Gabrielle Haker, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, John McLaughlin, Wayner Shorter, and Pierre Michelot, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Lonette McKee, and Martin Scorsese; music by Herbie Hancock.

In addition to our jazz film collection, the library's juvenile and adult collections contain 50+ books about jazz, including history and biography. The music collection also contains nearly 50 jazz CDs. To search the jazz music collection, use the online catalog to do a search for "jazz" as the subject and "music on CD" as the material type (do not use quotation marks). As always, if you can't find what you're looking for, just ask; staff will be happy to help!