Best Jazz Music

George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is an orchestral work from 1924. It uniquely fuses American popular song rhythms and blues influences with traditional classical forms. The piece became instantly iconic, launching Gershwin's career and profoundly impacting the development of jazz-classical music....

Pixar’s *Soul* investigates the nature of existence through the story of Joe Gardner, a middle school music teacher who unexpectedly enters the “Great Beyond.” The film uses jazz and animation to explore themes of purpose, passion, and appreciating life's simple joys. It is for anyone interested in...

Ever since a fateful encounter with jazz music, Dai Miyamoto has dreamed of becoming the world's best jazz saxophonist. After only three years of playing the instrument, he makes the bold decision to move to Tokyo in order to break into the music scene. When he meets pianist Yukinori Sawabe at a sma...

“An American in Paris” is an orchestral composition by George Gershwin completed in 1928. The work’s notable use of recorded urban noises, particularly taxi horns, creates a vivid sonic picture of Parisian life. It's a significant piece of 20th-century classical music appreciated by audiences intere...

Ken Burns’s *Jazz* offers a comprehensive exploration of American musical history. The ten-part documentary series meticulously details the evolution of jazz from its roots in New Orleans to its prominence throughout the 20th century. Featuring extensive archival footage and insightful narration, it...

The Dynaudio Confidence F50 is a masterclass in neutral, accurate sound reproduction. Designed to be the ultimate 'honest' speaker, it avoids artificial coloration and focuses on delivering exactly what was recorded. The Danish engineering results in a smooth midrange and incredibly controlled bass....

Asif Kapadia's 'Amy' (2015) is a devastating and deeply moving portrait of Amy Winehouse. Utilizing previously unseen home videos and intimate interviews, the film chronicles her rise to fame and her tragic struggles with addiction and mental health. While praised for its emotional honesty, the fil...

Carmen Jones is a 1954 American musical film adapting Georges Bizet’s opera *Carmen*. Featuring an all-Black cast, it retells the story of a passionate and dangerous love affair set in 1930s Bayonne, New Jersey. The production draws upon Hammerstein II's stage musical and Mérimée’s novella to explor...

Adam Neely is a musician and educator known for his detailed explorations of music theory, particularly within jazz and experimental genres. His videos offer analytical insights into improvisation, sound science, and modern musical concepts. He caters to musicians seeking deeper understanding and th...

Round Midnight, directed by Bertrand Tavernier, features Dexter Gordon and utilizes music from Herbie Hancock’s arrangements of Thelonious Monk compositions, notably “‘Round Midnight”. The film was released in 1986 and explores themes related to the musical piece featured throughout. It is based on...

"Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live!" is a 2014 television special broadcast on PBS. The program documents a collaborative jazz concert by singer Tony Bennett and pop artist Lady Gaga at the Rose Theater in New York City. The performance was recorded in support of their joint studio album...

Bird is a 1988 American biographical film directed by Clint Eastwood that chronicles the life of jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker. Forest Whitaker stars as Parker, delivering a performance that won him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film utilizes a non-linear narrative t...

Joni Mitchell's intensely personal and confessional album is a landmark achievement in singer-songwriter history. Blues raw honesty, poetic lyrics, and intricate guitar work established a new standard for vulnerability and artistic expression. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with...

Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 American biographical musical drama directed by Sidney J. Furie. Diana Ross makes her film debut as jazz singer Billie Holiday, with Billy Dee Williams portraying Louis McKay and Richard Pryor appearing as Piano Man. The story is loosely based on Holiday’s autobiograph...

The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 biographical drama directed by Lee Daniels. Andra Day portrays American jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday, with the story focusing on government efforts to investigate and suppress Holiday in connection with her performance of the song "Strange Fruit...