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| Jazz on a Spring Day | Stormy Weather |
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Jazz’s greatest artists in vintage shorts, digitally restored by the Cohen Film Collection. Includes: “Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life” with Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday; “A Rhapsody in Black and Blue” with Louis Armstrong; “St. Louis Blues” with Bessie Smith; “Cab Calloway’s Hi-De-Ho”; “A Bundle of Blues” with Duke Ellington; “(Paramount Presents) Hoagy Carmichael”; “Artie Shaw’s Class in Swing”; “Jazz à la Cuba” with The Don Aspiazu Orchestra; and “Black and Tan Fantasy” with Duke Ellington. |
Life of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson provided loose inspiration for this classic musical. He stars as WWI vet hoping to make it big as a dancer and win the heart of singer Selina Rogers (Lena Horne). This revue was among the first major studio features with predominantly African-American cast. Showcases iconic performances by Cab Calloway, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers, whose “Jumpin’ Jive” sequence was described by Fred Astaire as the greatest movie musical. |
A big round-up of jazz movies on offer this weekend at the Aero all looks tremendous — I like Sunday’s double bill devoted to Cuban jazz — but a particular shout-out to the dance evening Friday Sept 21 hosted by Rusty Frank, tap dancer and author of TAP! The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and Their Stories 1900-1955 on tap dance in film.
Jazz on Film | American Cinematheque | Aero Theatre | all weekend