Film: The Cry of Jazz
The classic 1959 short film The Cry of Jazz, which explores the genre's history, form, and significance to African American communities.
This film from 1959 explores the history of jazz, its future, its contemporary relevance to African American communities and politics, and the sometimes contentious dialogues between black artists and white listeners. Created by musician and director Edward Bland, The Cry of Jazz shifts from a conversation between jazz enthusiasts to performances from the legendary Sun Ra and scenes of everyday life in Chicago. It was somewhat controversial at the time of its release, due to both its unapologetically African American perspective and its proclamation that “Jazz is dead.”
While jazz was far from dead, the movie did prove prophetic in a few other ways. Its historic value, combined with the fascinating picture of jazz and Chicago it presents, makes The Cry of Jazz a classic film. It’s now preserved in the National Film Registry and has been digitized for all of us to enjoy today.
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