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Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns – Episode One: Gumbo (Film)
  • Date: Friday, May 09, 2014
  • Time: 4:00 pm
  • Location: William G. McGowan Theater, Washington, DC

Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns is an exploration of one of the defining art forms of America. From Duke Ellington to Louis Armstrong, Jazz traces the people and cultures of the music from its very origins in New Orleans. Following its progression through two World Wars, a Great Depression, and economic boom times all the way up to today, Ken Burns paints a rich and complete picture of the evolution of jazz music.

Starting in the 1890s, this first episode features African-American musicians such as Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden and Sydney Bichet as they create a new music style out of seemingly disparate New Orleans ingredients. Soon after the start of the new century, people are calling it jazz. (90 minutes)

The National Archives is also screening Episodes Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten as part of Jazz at the National Archives. You can purchase the entire series on DVD from the myArchives Store; members receive a 10% discount.

Jazz logo large greyJazz at the National Archives is made possible in part by the Foundation for the National Archives through the generous support of Natixis Global Asset Management.