A Masterpiece by Midnight
A Masterpiece by Midnight
A Masterpiece by Midnight
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Jazz
About Jazz
Jazz has been called the purest expression of American democracy; a music built on individualism and compromise, independence and cooperation. Ken Burns follows the growth and development of jazz music from the gritty streets of New Orleans to Chicago's south side, the speakeasies of Kansas city and to Times Square.
TV Schedules
Upcoming
Our Language (1924-1928) - S1 E3
Louis Armstrong arrives in New York. A blues craze, spearheaded by Bessie Smith, takes the nation by storm. Benny Goodman, clarinetist Artie Shaw, and singer Ethel Waters bring a new kind of artistry to American popular song. Jelly Roll Morton advances the art of jazz composition, and Duke Ellington begins his career as the pre-eminent composer in jazz history.
- Tuesday January 26, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday January 26, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday January 27, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday January 27, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Thursday January 28, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday January 28, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
The True Welcome (1929-1935) - S1 E4
A new dance, the Lindy Hop, begins to catch on at the dance halls of New York. Louis Armstrong starts singing on stage, and Duke Ellington's band begins to appear in Hollywood films with an image of elegant sophistication. Benny Goodman becomes a successful bandleader, Fats Waller becomes one of the most popular entertainers in the country, and pianist Art Tatum brings a dazzling virtuosity to jazz.
- Sunday January 31, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday January 31, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday February 2, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 2, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday February 3, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 3, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Thursday February 4, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 4, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
Swing: Pure Pleasure (1935-1937) - S1 E5
Big band jazz, "swing," becomes the most popular music in America. Clarinetist Benny Goodman becomes the first white bandleader to hire Black musicians and presents the first integrated public performances. Billie Holiday's exquisite phrasing propel her as a jazz singer. Louis Armstrong lands roles in Hollywood films, and Duke Ellington continues to compose distinctive music for his band.
- Sunday February 7, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 7, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday February 9, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 9, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday February 10, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 10, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Thursday February 11, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 11, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
Swing: The Velocity of Celebration (1937-1939) - S1 E6
The Great Depression deepens, but jazz thrives. Two saxophone masters, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, emerge. With the help of John Hammond, pianist Count Basie takes his band to New York, where his remarkable rhythm section and legendary soloists refine and redefine swing. Billie Holiday records with Basie, creating one of the great partnerships in jazz. Mary Lou Williams and Ella Fitzgerald emerge as stars, jazz enters Carnegie Hall, and Duke Ellington makes some of his greatest recordings.
- Sunday February 14, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 14, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday February 16, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 16, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday February 17, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 17, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Thursday February 18, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 18, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945) - S1 E7
Gifted trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, drummer Kenny Clarke, and pianist Thelonious Monk take jazz in startling new directions with their complex music - bebop. Armed Forces Radio broadcasts spread jazz across the globe, big band leader Glenn Miller dies in a plane crash over the English Channel, and jazz is banned by the Nazis and embraced by their opponents as a symbol of freedom and democracy.
- Sunday February 21, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 21, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday February 23, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Thursday February 25, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
Recent
Our Language (1924-1928) - S1 E3
- Sunday January 24, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday January 24, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
The Gift (1917-1924) - S1 E2
- Thursday January 21, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday January 21, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday January 20, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday January 20, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Tuesday January 19, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday January 19, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday January 17, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday January 17, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
Gumbo (Beginnings to 1917) - S1 E1
- Thursday January 14, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday January 14, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday January 13, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday January 13, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Tuesday January 12, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday January 12, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday January 10, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday January 10, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
