Edward Bland: 'Cry of Jazz'

Edward Bland died of cancer at his home in Smithfield, Va. on March 14 at 86. Bland was a musician, composer and arranger, according to the New York Times's obit,  but he also made one film—Cry of Jazz.

When the 34-minute film about jazz from the black perspective was released in 1959, it triggered debate among leading intellectuals. In 1998, Bland said in an interview: “It was considered the work of madmen when it was originally released. Black racists. At best it was considered a personal statement. Bad music, bad thinking, bad acting, bad writing and bad photography. Unfair to jazz, because we made jazz a political statement."

As amateurish as it might seem now, the film expresses a viewpoint not captured by white filmmakers of the time. For more on Bland go here and here.

Here's Edward Bland's Cry of Jazz, in its entirety:

Part 1...



Part 2...



Part 3...



Part 4...



JazzWax note: Just one day left (today) to support Stephanie Castillo's Kickstarter.com drive to fund a documentary on the late saxophonist Thomas Chapin. To view her video pitch and donate, go here.