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Jazz

Season 1

The story, sound and soul of a nation come together in the most American of art forms: Jazz. Ken Burns celebrates the music's soaring achievements, from its origins in blues and ragtime through swing, bebop, and fusion.

IMDb 8.6200110 episodes

X-Ray18+

Documentary·Historical

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Episode number
Newest episodes
Available to watch

S1 E1 - Gumbo (Beginnings to 1917)
January 8, 2001
1 h 26 min
18+
Jazz begins in New Orleans, 19th century America's most cosmopolitan city.
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S1 E2 - The Gift (1917 - 1924)
January 7, 2001
1 h 46 min
18+
Speakeasies, flappers, and easy money.
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S1 E3 - Our Language (1924 - 1929)
January 7, 2001
1 h 50 min
13+
In the 1920s, jazz is everywhere, and for the first time soloists and singers take center stage.
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S1 E4 - The True Welcome (1929 - 1934)
January 7, 2001
1 h 50 min
18+
In 1929 as the Great Depression begins, New York is now America's jazz capital.
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S1 E5 - Swing: Pure Pleasure (1935 - 1937)
January 7, 2001
1 h 26 min
TV-PG
As the Great Depression drags on, jazz comes as close as it has ever come to being America's popular music.
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S1 E6 - Swing: The Velocity of Celebration (1937 - 1939)
January 7, 2001
1 h 41 min
18+
As the 1930's come to a close, Swing-mania is still going strong, but some fans are saying success has made the music too predictable.
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S1 E7 - Dedicated to Chaos (1940 - 1945)
January 7, 2001
1 h 55 min
16+
When America enters World War II, jazz is part of the arsenal.
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S1 E8 - Risk (1945 - 1955)
January 7, 2001
1 h 59 min
13+
The postwar years bring prosperity, but the Cold War threat makes these anxious years as well.
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S1 E9 - The Adventure (1955-1960)
January 7, 2001
1 h 51 min
13+
For jazz, the late 1950s is a period of transition when old stars like Billie Holiday and Lester Young will burn out while young talents arise to take the music in new directions.
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S1 E10 - A Masterpiece By Midnight (1961 - PRESENT)
January 7, 2001
1 h 48 min
16+
During the Sixties, jazz is in trouble.
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