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.
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Risk (1945-1955) - S1 E8
Jazz becomes the official symbol of American democracy abroad. At home, the music splinters into different camps: white and black, cool and hot, East and West, traditional and modern. Television offers fewer opportunities for jazz to be heard, and many big bands dismantle. The rhythm and blues phenomenon further erodes the audience for jazz. Dizzy Gillespie forms a big band and blends modern jazz with Latin rhythms. A quieter sound known as "cool" jazz includes baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and piano player Dave Brubeck. Trumpeter Miles Davis becomes the most influential musician of his generation.
- Sunday March 14, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday March 14, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday March 16, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday March 16, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday March 17, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday March 17, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Thursday March 18, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday March 18, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
The Adventure (1955-1960) - S1 E9
As rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll further erode the jazz audience, the music nonetheless enjoys a time of tremendous creativity. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins makes his mark on the scene, and young trumpeter Clifford Brown achieves great artistry, cut short by death in a car accident. Vocalist Sarah Vaughan forever sets a standard for jazz singing. The free-jazz pioneer, Ornette Coleman, whose music challenges all of the conventions of jazz, signals the arrival of the avant garde and provokes a debate about the definition of jazz that continues to this day.
- Sunday March 21, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday March 21, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday March 23, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday March 23, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday March 24, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday March 24, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Thursday March 25, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday March 25, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
A Masterpiece by Midnight (1960-Present) - S1 E10
In the 1960s, jazz becomes divided into "schools" - Dixieland, swing, bop, hard bop, cool, modal, free, avant-garde. The question of what is jazz and what isn't rages, dividing audiences, dividing musicians, dividing generations. For many, the real question is whether jazz, the most American of art forms, will survive at all. By the mid-80s, jazz begins to be heard in concert halls, on rap records, in film scores, and television commercials. As it approaches its centennial, jazz is still alive and still changing.
- Sunday March 28, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday March 28, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
- Tuesday March 30, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday March 30, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Wednesday March 31, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday March 31, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Thursday April 1, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday April 1, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
Recent
Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945) - S1 E7
- Thursday February 25, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Tuesday February 23, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday February 21, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 21, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
Swing: The Velocity of Celebration (1937-1939) - S1 E6
- Thursday February 18, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 18, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday February 17, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 17, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Tuesday February 16, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 16, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday February 14, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 14, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
Swing: Pure Pleasure (1935-1937) - S1 E5
- Thursday February 11, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 11, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday February 10, 2021 3:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 10, 2021 2:30 am CT on KET
- Tuesday February 9, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 9, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday February 7, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday February 7, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2
The True Welcome (1929-1935) - S1 E4
- Thursday February 4, 2021 2:00 am ET on KET2
- Thursday February 4, 2021 1:00 am CT on KET2
- Wednesday February 3, 2021 3:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday February 3, 2021 2:00 am CT on KET
- Tuesday February 2, 2021 12:00 pm ET on KET
- Tuesday February 2, 2021 11:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday January 31, 2021 8:00 pm ET on KET2
- Sunday January 31, 2021 7:00 pm CT on KET2