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I am hesitant to even begin writing this review. After all, Ken Burns' "Jazz" has become one of the great treasures of modern American documentary filmmaking. It's so famous that it's hard to believe that there's anyone out there who hasn't already seen it, or at least heard of it. Reviewing this film series is a bit like reviewing one of Shakespeare's plays or one of Mozart's operas: What can I possibly add that hasn't already been said by countless others whose views are better informed, and whose words are more eloquent, than mine? After all, I am a jazz lover, but am no expert on the history of jazz. And, while I devour documentaries like candy, I am certainly not a professional film critic. My opinions of this film series are simply those of an enthusiastic layperson with very little background in the subject, not those of a scholar or artist. So, why bother writing a review and exposing myself as a philistine who knows next to nothing about either jazz or documentary filmmaking? Because, after finally purchasing the DVDs, and re-watching this series for the first time since it originally aired on PBS more than a decade ago, I can't resist the temptation to gush over how much I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm not going to suggest that this is a perfect documentary series. Other reviewers, as well as professional critics who actually know what they're taking about, have pointed out its many shortcomings. But, in spite of all its flaws, it's still an absolute delight to watch. First of all, it's entertaining. Every episode is packed full of some of the best jazz music that has ever been made. In addition to the music, you will hear many wonderful anecdotes -- some hilariously funny, some touchingly sentimental, and some tragically sad -- about the most famous people and venues in the history of jazz music. And these are illustrated with a selection of old photographs and film clips that help bring the stories to life. But, in addition to being entertaining, it's also very informative. You'll learn about the history of jazz, and how the history of jazz is really the social and cultural history of the United States. Jazz is America in musical form. It is our national zeitgeist made audible. Jazz tells the story of the American experience, and especially the African American experience, better than any other art form. There is no more faithful expression of the American character -- with its seemingly paradoxical blend of rugged individualism and community spirit, love of freedom and need for order, passion for innovation and reverence for tradition -- than you find in jazz. Jazz is the best expression of what it means to be American. One might even be tempted to say that it's impossible to fully understand what America is all about without at least some understanding of what jazz is all about. And if you want to understand what jazz is all about, Ken Burns' wonderful documentary series is a good place to begin.
Yes, as the critics are quick to point out, this documentary gives an incomplete, and perhaps somewhat distorted, picture of the history of jazz. First of all, it focuses mainly on the heyday of jazz in the 1920s, '30s, and '40s, and devotes considerably less time and attention to later developments in jazz. Also, since Ken Burns takes a biographical approach to his historical documentaries, much of this series is devoted to chronicling the lives and careers of some of the biggest names in the history of jazz -- Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, etc. -- while other great jazz musicians are covered only briefly, if at all. A number of critics found this approach unsatisfactory, some even going so far as to accuse Ken Burns of elitism. But, while these criticisms might be well-intentioned and, at least in some cases, valid, I think they ultimately miss the point of what Ken Burns' "Jazz" was trying to do. In my (admittedly ill-informed) opinion, this documentary series was never intended to be a comprehensive, scholarly socio-cultural history of jazz music in all its diversity, with a detailed analysis of the individual contribution of every significant jazz musician in history. Rather, it seems to me that this was meant to be a celebration of a wonderful style of music that is quintessentially American, whose history is inextricably entangled with the history of America, and whose story is, in essence, the story of the American (and, in particular, the African American) experience. The purpose of this documentary was not simply to inform the viewer about what happened when, and who did what. Rather, its main goal was to help the viewer understand -- emotionally as well as intellectually -- that jazz is the sound of America. When viewed this way, many of the criticisms that have been leveled against it over the years just seem tiresomely pedantic.
The bottom line is that, watching Ken Burns' "Jazz" really inspires a greater appreciation of this music and the people who made it, and makes you realize just how much this music reflects the true heart and soul of America. No, it's not a perfect documentary series. But that's okay, because jazz itself has never been about technical perfection. The best jazz musicians aren't necessarily the ones who consistently hit all the right notes. Rather, the best jazz musicians are the ones who consistently put all the right feelings into whatever notes they do hit. This film series may miss a few notes here and there; but it puts all the right feelings into every note it hits. (Plus, Keith David should narrate everything. His voice and delivery are amazing.)
Perhaps the best thing I can say about Ken Burns' "Jazz" is that, after my recent re-watch, I have fallen even more deeply in love with jazz, and with the films of Ken Burns, than I already was. Lately I've been listening to jazz a lot more than usual, and shopping around for more recordings to fill in the gaps in my jazz collection. And I've also added a bunch of Ken Burns documentaries to my wish list, which I'll probably be ordering soon. So, if you want my advice (there's no reason you should; but I'm gonna give it to you anyway), ignore what the critics have to say: This is one of the best documentary film series you'll ever see in your life. Get it. Watch it. Love it.
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