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The Cry of Jazz

Filmed in Chicago & finished in 1959, The Cry of Jazz is filmmaker, composer and arranger Edward O. Bland's polemical essay on the politics of music and race - a forecast of what he called "the death of jazz." A landmark moment in black film, foreseeing the civil unrest of subsequent decades, it also features the only known footage of visionary pianist Sun Ra from his beloved Chicago period. Featured are ample images of tenor saxophonist John Gilmore and the rest of Ra's Arkestra in Windy City nightclubs, all shot in glorious black & white.

Top Cast

  • George Waller

    George Waller

    Alex Johnson

  • Dorothea Horton

    Dorothea Horton

    Natalie

  • Melinda Dillon

    Melinda Dillon

    Faye

  • Andrew Duncan

    Andrew Duncan

    John

  • Leroy Inman

    Leroy Inman

    Louis

  • James Miller

    James Miller

    Bob

  • Gavin McFadyan

    Gavin McFadyan

    Bruce

  • Carl Dupree

    Carl Dupree

  • Goldina Rojas

    Goldina Rojas

Overview

Filmed in Chicago & finished in 1959, The Cry of Jazz is filmmaker, composer and arranger Edward O. Bland's polemical essay on the politics of music and race - a forecast of what he called "the death of jazz." A landmark moment in black film, foreseeing the civil unrest of subsequent decades, it also features the only known footage of visionary pianist Sun Ra from his beloved Chicago period. Featured are ample images of tenor saxophonist John Gilmore and the rest of Ra's Arkestra in Windy City nightclubs, all shot in glorious black & white.

Rating

6.1 / 10
14 Reviews
0 Popular

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