Ken Burns' Jazz was a documentary that was made for those that have no idea about Jazz. And wouldn't know just how bad a documentary it truly happened to be.
It was as informative as See Spot Run is to a child first learning to read. It was a complete waste of $20 million. They would have been better served helping all the down and out jazz greats instead with all that money.
Sidney Bechet is one of the greatest Jazz musicians to ever play. But all you heard about him was some made up story about a duel in the streets of Paris. As well as another made up story about some incident regarding a dog.
Bill Evans and Cecil Taylor are the two most influential piano players in the last 40-50 years and Evans didn't even get mentioned. Taylor was the only musician that had any negative comment made about him. Because he doesn't fit Wynton Marsalis' concept of what Jazz happens to be.
Bud Powell and Charles Mingus got a total of 1-2 minutes and it was about their behavior. We are talking about two of the top musicians in Jazz. I would place Powell as the 2nd best piano player and Mingus the best bass player and third best composer in jazz. They got 2 minutes combined and none of it about music. In comparision they spent 10-15 minutes on Glenn Miller, which is about 10-15 too long.
A long list of greats were only mentioned in relations to their drug habits. One stupid talking head (most of whom were not even musicians) after another talking over the music being played while commenting about something they were not there to witness. While many musicians that were still alive did not get interviewed. The last 40+ years of Jazz history were covered in less than 90 minutes. A good chunk of that wasted on one Wynton Marsalis. I could go on and on on this subject but why rehash something (the documentary) that should be long forgotten.
It lasted an eternity but they couldn't find space to play a single song without some talking head making some stupid remark over it.
I don't think you will find one really knowledge Jazz fan who didn't think it was a waste of time and money.
If you think I don't like it you should check online what the majority think about it. A quick search online would show you just what Jazz musicians/critics/fans thought about this documentary. Hostile would be a major understatement.
