The Cry of Jazz
United States • 1959
Director
Synopsis
Featuring music by Sun Ra and his Arkestra, this landmark semi-documentary explores—via a heated conversation between a group of Black and white jazz aficionados—the relationship between jazz and race in America. Touching on the development of jazz as a distinctly African American art form born of Black struggle and the insidious co-option of Black culture by white people, THE CRY OF JAZZ proved explosively controversial both for its frank discussion of race and its bold proclamation that “jazz is dead.”
Synopsis
Featuring music by Sun Ra and his Arkestra, this landmark semi-documentary explores—via a heated conversation between a group of Black and white jazz aficionados—the relationship between jazz and race in America. Touching on the development of jazz as a distinctly African American art form born of Black struggle and the insidious co-option of Black culture by white people, THE CRY OF JAZZ proved explosively controversial both for its frank discussion of race and its bold proclamation that “jazz is dead.”
Credits
Crew
DirectorEdward Bland
ComposerSun Ra
Cast
George Walleras Alex Johnson
Dorothea Hortonas Natalie
Melinda Dillonas Faye
Andrew Duncanas John
Leroy Inmanas Louis
James Milleras Bob
Gavin McFadyanas Bruce