JAM: October/November 2000 Issue: Scrapple From the Apple

© Russ Dantzler 2000

"JAZZ"
Ken Burns' 10-Part PBS Epic Begins in January

A friend said she'd learned more about the Civil War from Ken Burns' PBS series than anywhere else. His treatment of "Baseball" was universally acclaimed. Beginning next January 8, we can see the same fine filmmaking applied to jazz.

Over five years ago co-producer Peter Miller consulted me concerning people to be interviewed for this project. Seventy-five interviews, over 500 pieces of music, 2400 photos and over 2300 archival film clips -- some hardly ever seen -- finally went into this epic series.

Ken Burns

"What we created will stand the test of time and is truly a work of art," said "Episode 6" editor Aaron Vega, who spent over three years working on the "Jazz" project. "It was a learning experience for me, not just as a filmmaker, but also from going into the world and history of jazz music. We had to experiment with new ideas and ways of telling a story."

Ken Burns admitted that he had "baited and switched" us at what was supposed to be a screening of the first installment on September 6 in New York City. Instead, we watched the seventh in the series, titled "Dedicated to Chaos," covering the period 1940-1945. Charlie Parker, the "son of a Pullman chef from Kansas City," was most prominently featured, along with World War II. The film explains how Bird developed his phrasing, affecting all of jazz. "'KoKo' unleashed Parker on the jazz world," relates Gary Giddins. Buck O'Neil tells us that hearing Billie Holiday "made you want to lay down and cry."

"Jazz music objectifies America," states the often-quoted senior creative consultant Wynton Marsalis at the start of the first episode. Significant time was spent trying to define jazz and its diverse sources, which Albert Murray calls "the creative process incarnate." New Orleans is credited as its birthplace. This account says the word "jass" was derived from the jasmine perfume used by the whores in Storyville.

Some of the unconfirmed stories and legends in the film are given to viewers in the same way as established facts might be. Hopefully, this will spur much classroom debate and study. Major sponsor General Motors will distribute curriculum materials to 75,000 teachers nationwide, which should reach over six million students.

Burns and a sizable team of dedicated professionals have given us a masterpiece that will help to educate the next generation of jazz fans. The rest of us will be given rich, delectable food for thought.

"Jazz" will air on PBS in January 2001. Beginning November 10, details can be confirmed at pbs.org/jazz.

Monday, January 8: "Gumbo" (Beginnings to 1917)
Tuesday, January 9: "The Gift" (1917-1924)
Wednesday, January 10: "Our Language" (1924-1928)
Monday, January 15: "The True Welcome" (1929-1935)
Wednesday, January 17: "Swing: Pure Pleasure" (1935-1937)
Monday, January 22: "Swing: The Velocity of Celebration" (1937-1939)
Tuesday, January 23: "Dedicated to Chaos" (1940-1945)
Wednesday, January 24: "Risk" (1945-1955)
Monday, January 29 "The Adventure" (1956-1960)
Wednesday, January 31: "A Masterpiece by Midnight" (1961-The Present)