Jazz biography movies for kids

Since 2001, April in the United States has meant jazz appreciation month. Created by John Edward Hasse, curator of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the event was intended as an opportunity to, “recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history” of this remarkable art form.

To celebrate, let’s take look at some of our favorite moments when the worlds of Disney and Jazz intersected.

Pixar’s Soul

In 2020, Disney and Pixar released the animated film Soul, directed by Peter Docter and starring Jamie Foxx. The movie, which would go on to win two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, tells the story of jazz pianist Joe Gardner. 

While the story is a work of fiction, Gardner was inspired by a real-life music teacher from Queens named Dr. Peter Archer. 

The score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with original jazz numbers contributed by Jon Batiste – a Grammy award-winning pianist and the bandleader on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show. 

To ensure accuracy the film team consulted with legendary musicians like Herbie Hancock and even studied Batiste’s hands while playing piano as a reference for animating the sequences of Gardner performing. 

Following the release of the film, an exhibit titled “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” was opened in Epcot, providing Guests a view of jazz history, along with artifacts such as Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, Charlie Parker’s saxophone, and Gene Krupa’s drum sticks.

Disney Songs the Satchmo Way

From 1960 to 1970, Disneyland held an event known as ‘Dixieland at Disneyland.’ It featured live music and a Mardi Gras parade. The great Louis Armstrong performed at the event, and also appeared in the 1962 World of Color Episode “Disneyland After Dark.” You can still find recordings of it online, and it’s a treat to see Armstrong performing aboard the Mark Twain riverboat alo

Jazz has always been a fertile ground for filmmakers, but the last few years in particular have seen a flurry of jazz documentaries being made. Whilst some of these films profile individual musicians, others opt for a broader angle, focusing on a record label, or a particular social issue across jazz history. 

The impact of many of the greatest musicians in jazz history goes far beyond just their music. They are three-dimensional characters, many of whom have led quite remarkable lives.

Some have had interesting or important things to say; others have played jazz despite incredible challenges; others have had their lives cut tragically short. These are just some of the reasons that jazz has inspired has inspired so many great documentary films over the years.

It’s fascinating to see and learn about the lives of our musical heroes away from the bandstand: how their voices sound, how they dress, what they thought, and so on.

We thought we’d put together our list of some of the best jazz documentary films out there. Of course, with a list that runs to 10, we’ve missed out some other brilliant ones.

We’ll namecheck those at the end but, in the meantime, I hope this article will inspire you to watch – or rewatch – some of these great jazz movies…

Art Pepper: Notes From a Jazz Survivor (1982)

Pepper was a mercurial alto saxophone soloist, who made classic West Coast albums like Meets The Rhythm Section and Art Pepper + Eleven.

As outlined in his remarkable autobiography Straight Life, he was also an extremely troubled individual, who spent time in prison and struggled with heroin addiction and other personal problems.

This 1982 effort features Art speaking with brutal honesty about his life, his music, his shortcomings and his strengths. It also contains extensive footage of a quartet performance in a Malibu club.

At just 49 minutes, Notes From a Jazz Survivor is one of the shorter films on this list, but it certai

Since its emergence in the late 19th century and its first recording on a physical support in the 1910s, jazz has fascinated and intrigued music fans all over the world. With the development of its history and the rise to fame of some of its greatest interpreters, jazz has become synonym with creative experimentation, emotional feel and existential rebelliousness.

This list brings to you the greatest movies about jazz, and it shows the versatility, evolution, and historical importance of this music genre. From amazing classics like Mo' Better Blues and The Cotton Club to modern achievements like Miles Ahead and La La Land, this article suggests movies that will be appreciated by fans of the music genre as well as musical aficionados and enthusiasts of biopics.

15 The Glenn Miller Story

Directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in the leading role, The Glenn Miller Story is a biopic that narrates the story of Glenn Miller, a famous jazz orchestra leader whose big band became one of the most notorious in the 20th century. Alongside Stewart, June Allyson plays Miller's wife Helen, and several cameos are present by artists like Louis Armstrong, Cozy Cole, and Trummy Young.

The Glenn Miller Story shines for the great performances of both Stewart and Allyson, while the music of the band leader resounds in all its beauty throughout the movie. This biopic is extremely enjoyable and helps the audience understand the various types of jazz that emerged in America. Not only great solo artists but also incredible orchestras.

Related: The Best Jimmy Stewart Movies, Ranked

14 All Night Long

Co-produced and directed by Basil Dearde, All Night Long is an adaptation of a William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello. It sees protagonists Patrick McGoohan as Johnny Cousin and Marti Stevens as Delia Lane. At the same time, the movie features an ensemble of British and American jazz artists playing themselves