Jammin' the Blues is a priceless black and white short dating from 1944. Its story is complicated and convoluted, in essence, jazz enthusiasts Gjon Mili (the film's director) and Norman Granz battled Warner Bros., resisting the film company's attempts to take the project in a different direction. Here at the Village Hotel, a screening of the film was arranged at short notice, such short notice the event wasn't listed in the CJP's printed programme.
Existing copies of Jammin' the Blues, online or elsewhere, are of poor quality. Mili and Granz couldn't have imagined that 80 years later an enhanced copy of their Academy-nominated film would be screened in a side room in a hotel on North Tyneside. Dance teacher, film buff and jazz fan, Andy Lewis set about 'upscaling' the film. A laborious, often frustrating, process, Durham based Lewis eventually succeeded in producing a watchable film. That's where the 'upscaling' came in. Thanks to a dogged determination to see it through, Andy is now in a position to present screenings with the bonus of an informative commentary.
And so we watched, often in awe, Lester Young, 'Sweets' Edison, Red Callender, Illinois Jacquet, Sid Catlett, Jo Jones, dancers (including Marie Bryant!) and others participating in a jam session. A staged jam session, of course, nevertheless an invaluable, historic, documentary film. Andy set the film in context: Hollywood politics, virulent racism within the movie industry (Barney Kessel hidden in the shadows so as not to upset the racists, later, Norman Granz, the established impresario, would stand up to them, insisting on integrated audiences at his JATP concert series) and wider society, etc. A relaxed, engaging style, Andy happily chatted to his audience, many of whom were up and about bright and early following Friday's late night jam session. An enjoyable and, for some, informative hour. Check out Andy Lewis' work at: www.straycat.me.uk. Russell
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