Stuff You Gotta Watch: The Cry of Jazz
Often viewed as an early example of the Black Power movement, The Cry of Jazz connects jazz to African-American history through performance clips (which include the likes of Sun Ra and John Gilmore), dramatic sequences, and narrated footage of Chicago's Black neighborhoods in the 1950s.
The documentary is revolutionary for its depiction of Black and white people discussing jazz and politics together—suggesting an integration that was far from the norm in late '50s America—but also for including clear statements denouncing how much of Western popular music is an appropriation of black genres: "Rock'n'roll is merely an offspring of rhythm & blues," George Waller's Alex tells a white couple.
The Cry of Jazz is a valuable document of an era and a lifestyle, with its juxtaposition of sociopolitical contextualization and musical sequences proving to be both educational and entertaining. It also traces a parallel between jazz and Black life: Both are defined as a mix of "freedom and restraint." Initially released in 1959 to mixed reviews and accusations of "black racism," it has since been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance.
Review by Ana Leorne. Check out the full archive of the Stuff You Gotta Watch column.