6 Brilliant Films About Jazz

If you’re anything like me, you’ll love to watch a film now and again. And what could be better than a film that not only entertains us and engages us but one that also features the music that we love to play and listen to? So here’s a list including 6 of my favourite films about jazz, or featuring jazz, that I hope you’ll watch and enjoy.

1. Whiplash (2014)

This is a fantastic film. It absolutely brings back memories and feelings from my days studying jazz at music college. Although no-one was quite as bad as the tutor, Fletcher (played by J.K. Simmons), there were certainly times when I felt a sense of dread in classes or rehearsals. Nevertheless, there’s some fantastic jazz music featured in this movie.

This is the storyline taken from IMDb: Nineteen year old Andrew Niemann wants to be the greatest jazz drummer in the world, in a league with Buddy Rich. This goal is despite not coming from a pedigree of greatest, musical or otherwise, with Jim, his high school teacher father, being a failed writer. Andrew is starting his first year at Shaffer Conservatory of Music, the best music school in the United States. At Shaffer, being the best means being accepted to study under Terence Fletcher and being asked to play in his studio band, which represents the school at jazz competitions. Based on their less than positive first meeting, Andrew is surprised that Fletcher asks him to join the band, albeit in the alternate drummer position which he is more than happy to do initially. Andrew quickly learns that Fletcher operates on fear and intimidation, never settling for what he considers less than the best each and every time. Being the best in Fletcher's mind does not only entail playing well, but knowing that you're playing well.

2. La La Land (2016)

This is another film which features some great music. The director and writer, Damien Chazelle, also wrote and directed Whiplash! So it’s no coincidence that it’s another brilliant film about jazz. Whereas Whiplash had an almost horror genre style to it, La La Land is much more on the romantic side, with an air of nostalgia to it like an old-fashioned Hollywood musical.

This is the storyline as described by IMDb: Aspiring actress [Emma Stone] serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and jazz musician Sebastian [Ryan Gosling] scrapes by playing cocktail-party gigs in dingy bars. But as success mounts, they are faced with decisions that fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

3. Bird (1988)

Bird, as the name suggests, is a film about the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker. This film is a must watch for any aspiring jazz saxophonist. It features a soundtrack of some of Bird’s famous compositions and improvisational playing.

Here’s what IMDb says about the story (although it is somewhat short of details): Saxophone player Charlie "Bird" Parker (Forest Whitaker) comes to New York City in 1940. He is quickly noticed for his remarkable way of playing. He becomes a drug addict, but his loving wife Chan (Diane Venora) tries to help him.

4. Mo’ Better Blues (1990)

This film is great because it features some brilliant jazz music. The trumpet of lead character Bleek Gilliam (played by Denzel Washington), is actually the work of Terence Blanchard. And the saxophone playing of Shadow Henderson (played by Wesley Snipes) is actually that of Branford Marsalis. Not only that, the renowned jazz drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts is actually playing the character of Rhythm Jones, the band’s drummer.

This is what IMDb says about the film’s storyline: Opens with Bleek as a child learning to play the trumpet, his friends want him to come out and play but mother insists he finish his lessons. Bleek grows into adulthood and forms his own band - The Bleek Gilliam Quartet. The story of Bleek's and Shadow's friendly rivalry on stage which spills into their professional relationship and threatens to tear apart the quartet.

5. Miles Ahead (2015)

This film is fun, amusing and contains some nice jazz music. It features Ewan McGregor as Dave Braden, a reporter, and Don Cheadle as Miles. The story is derived from a section of Davis’ career and life and has some brilliant moments of drama, including a scene where he gets his gun out in a meeting with the record company. Miles Davis is a legend and his music is too, so what could be better than a film about that?

Here’s the very sparse description from IMDb: An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis

6. The Aristocats (1970)

OK, here’s the last film in our little list of films about jazz. And yes, it’s a Disney film. And yes, I love Disney. So it makes it into the list. It’s a lovely little animated film about a posh cat and a streetwise stray cat, and some jazzy cat friends. Some drama ensues, some jazz is played, and they all live happily ever after.

Here’s the storyline according to IMDb: Retired opera star Adelaide Bonfamille enjoys the good life in her Paris villa with even classier cat Duchess and three kittens: pianist Berlioz, painter Toulouse and sanctimonious Marie. When loyal butler Edgar overhears her will leaves everything to the cats until their death, he drugs and kidnaps them. However retired army dogs make his sidecar capsize on the country. Crafty stray cat Thomas O'Malley takes them under his wing back to Paris. Edgar tries to cover his tracks and catch them at return, but more animals turn on him, from the cart horse Frou-Frou to the tame mouse Roquefort and O'Malley's jazz friends.

So there you have it. My list of 6 brilliant films about jazz. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you go and watch them all now.