For a movie called the king of jazz, there sure isnt a lot of jazz in it. Pioneer in american music, 18901930 studies in jazz pdf best book. In louis armstrong and paul whiteman the jazz scholar joshua berrett offers a provocative revision of the history of early jazz by focusing on two of its most notable practitionerswhiteman, legendary in his day, and armstrong, a legend ever since. King of jazz is back, burnished for movie fans the new. In 1920, the jazz age was underway and was indirectly fueled by prohibition of alcohol. Paul whitemans technicolor revue by james layton and david pierce media history press 1725 grand view ave. In all seriousness, the king of jazz 1930 restoration looks to be a fantastic one. Finally, two oswald the lucky rabbit cartoons from 1930 that have a king of jazz connection, plus a 24page illustrated booklet. Its historic nature can only enhance appreciation of todays musical fare with an understanding where and how. Rock and pop were monarchies, jazz was always a republic. At the time the film was made, jazz, to the general public, meant the jazzinfluenced syncopated dance music which was being heard everywhere on phonograph records and through radio broadcasts.
A significant movie restoration not only can return a films patina of newness but its place in film history as well. King of jazz 1930 restored technicolor sequence steve. The film title was taken from whitemans selfconferred appellation. King of jazz was the first of the revue craze of 1929mid 1930 to enter the planning stage, and the last of the major efforts to be released. I know everybody and everybodys racket, a 1933 short film featuring paul whiteman and his orchestra. Were proud to present the world premiere of universals. The restoration of this 1930 musical revue starring the bandleader paul whiteman is thought by some to be among the most expensive ever. The opening is a mashup of for hes a jolly good fellow a. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more.
This restored clip courtesy of universal studios features the newly restored rhapsody in blue number from king of jazz 1930. This musical film contains one of the few recorded records on film of some of the great vaudiville and musical acts that were extant during the late 20s and early 30s. Joseph raymond conniff november 6, 1916 october 12, 2002 was an american bandleader and arranger best known for his ray conniff singers during the 1960s. In chicago, the jazz scene was developing rapidly, aided by the immigration of over 40 prominent new orleans jazzmen to the city, continuous throughout much of the 1920s, including the new orleans rhythm kings who began playing at friars inn. King of jazz 1930 musical jeanette loff paul whiteman. Any lover of classic film, jazz and popculture history will consider this longawaited restoration of the king of jazz required viewing, and i unreservedly give it my highest recommendation. Discover whats missing in your discography and shop for kings of jazz releases. The latter is the case with universals 1930 twostrip technicolor musicalrevue epic, the king of jazz. This summer, i attended a soldout screening of universal studios digital restoration of king of jazz 1930 at the cinema ritrovato in bologna. Very few films shot completely in twostrip technicolor survive this is one of them. Conniff commented, one time i was recording an album with mitch. Key figures in developing the big jazz band included bandleaders and arrangers count basie, cab calloway, jimmy and tommy dorsey, duke ellington, benny goodman, fletcher henderson, earl hines, glenn miller, and artie shaw.
Listen to this first 1920s recording by one of the kings of jazz sidney bechet was one of the first big jazz soloists, and brought the soprano saxophone into the jazz fold. This revue presents its numbers around the orchestra leader paul whiteman, besides that it shows in its final number that the european popular music are the roots of american popular music, called jazz. King of jazz, which was elevated to the library of congresss national film registry in 20, was refurbished thanks to a major commitment from universal, the library of. Please encourage the release of the king of jazz 1930 on dvd. Print and download happy feet sheet music by bing crosby. Read louis armstrong and paul whiteman two kings of jazz ebook online. Swing bands usually featured soloists who would improvise on the melody over the arrangement. All americans, a 1929 short film featuring a version of the melting pot number that was restaged for king of jazz. Chet baker, louis armstrong, dizzy gillespie, clifford brown, donald byrd and many more. Also, a lot of the vocalists are grating and painful to listen to. Joshua berrett is the author of the louis armstrong companion.
Restored 1930 king of jazz musical premiered at moma. Two oswald the lucky rabbit cartoons from 1930, featuring music and animation from king of jazz. King of jazz is a 1930 american precode color film starring paul whiteman and his orchestra. King of jazz 1930 directed by john murray anderson. Big band swing and jazz from the 1930s and 1940s various artists this collection captures the freshness and excitement of the first years of swing, as bands grew larger and arrangers worked to find a balance between melody and rhythm. King of jazz is back, burnished for movie fans the new york times. Music used in the king of jazz 1930 animated sequence. This is the very first time since 1930 that we are actually seeing the 2strip technicolor as was originally printedproduced 86 years ago. Although whiteman who was indeed a white man cannot really lay claim to that title nowadays, and there are those who would query his use of the term at the time, he was a popular bandleader of his day, although this film intended to showcase him and his music wasnt much of a success on its release. For decades the film had a somewhat underwhelming reputation as universals rhapsody in the red, because it was one of the studios biggest money losers, contributing ultimately to the demise of the carl laemmle era.
This dual biography explores these diverging legacies in the. However, in 1920, the cabaret business began in new york city. American precode color film starring paul whiteman and his jazz orchestra. In the 1930s in jazz, swing jazz emerged as a dominant form in american music, in which some virtuoso soloists became as famous as the band leaders. The restored version of the 1930 musical the king of jazz premiered at new yorks museum of modern art on may, and opened the museums series universal pictures. King of jazz 1930 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Made during the early years of the movie musical, this exuberant revue was one of the most extravagant, eclectic, and technically ambitious hollywood productions of its day. Friday, september 23 animal crackers new restoration including long unseen footage. It went hugely overbudget which is abundantly clear while watching, and was released at the wrong time. Eight decades of commentary, the musical world of j. Greatest jazz trumpeters the kings of jazz youtube. The current technicolor negative of king of jazz, lovingly assembled from pristine original prints and battered dupes, runs 93 minutes some 12 minutes short of the films original length. Swing music, or simply swing, is a form of popular jazz music developed in the united states that dominated in the 1930s and 1940s. Paul whitemans fame was unmatched throughout the twenties. The film title was taken from whitemans selfconferred. Listen to this first 1920s recording by one of the kings. Starring the bandleader paul whiteman, then widely celebrated as the king of jazz, the film drew from broadway variety shows to present a spectacular array of. Of course, the parts where the film really shines are the parts that feature the magnificent paul whiteman orchestra.
His articles have been published in journal of jazz studies, the musical quarterly, american music, the black perspective in. Celebrated as the king of jazz in 1930 in a universal studios feature film, whitemans imperium has declined considerably since. There are a huge range of instruments that a jazz group uses an. Intended as universal pictures entry in the allstar musical cycle of the early talkie era, king of jazz is certainly the most elaborate of the. Very useful for historical, documentary, or just any cooky, original, feelgood material, fashion etc. In his push to establish universal as a firstrank studio, junior laemmle put two superproductions on the schedule at once. The legend of louis armstrong, in contrast, grows ever more lustrous. Bourgois, as well as commentary for the verve deluxe cd reissue, satchmo. At the time the film was made, jazz, to the general public, meant the jazz influenced syncopated dance music which was being heard everywhere on phonograph records and through radio broadcasts.
This group is devoted to the 1930 film king of jazz, which was a revuestyle musical that featured musical. On its initial release, this cinematically innovative. The name swing came from the swing feel where the emphasis is on the offbeat or weaker pulse in the music. Its a diverse musical genre with lots of sub genres which makes finding one king too hard. Between 195768, conniff had 28 albums in the american top 40, the most famous one being somewhere my love 1966. The bear went over the mountain whose origins can be. This is an irresistable piece of pretty accurate periodic jazz, popular in the 1930s.