Video Extra: Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story

In conjunction with Black History Month, Great Performances is airing a special encore presentation of Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story (check local listings). Based on the book by William Shack, the film looks at the impact of African American performers and musicians during the great jazz era of Paris.

In the video extra below, learn more about Louis Mitchell, a young black entrepreneur in 1920 Paris, who brought African American jazz musicians to Montmartre. Mitchell formed a popular quintet, made the first jazz recording in France, and opened all-night lunch counters to cater to inebriated club-goers.

Tags: African American, Great Performances, jazz, Paris

YOUNG@HEART and a Day of Jazz at the Chicago Cultural Center

WTTW Reception for Young Musicians and Their Families

This past Saturday, Community Cinema hosted a truly one-of-a-kind event for the film YOUNG@HEART in Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center. ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator, Naomi Walker, shares her experience at the event.

Thanks to our wonderful partner the Jazz Institute of Chicago who teamed up with Community Cinema, WTTW Channel 11 and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to present a screening of YOUNG@HEART and a day of jazz greats both young and old at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The event began at 12:15 PM with a concert by Chicago Public School’s All-City Youth Jazz Ensemble. The young people showed their dedication, passion and talent and played a wide range of jazz forms. Shaunese Teamer, Manager of Community Outreach and National Publicity at WTTW, invited the young musicians and their families and friends to a reception after the concert. The Ensemble and their fans mingled with WTTW members in the beautiful rotunda at the Cultural Center. Our guest speakers all met at the reception to the delight of the jazz aficionados in the crowd. Jazz legends Fred Anderson, Mwata Bowden, and Willie Pickens have all known each other for years. Mwata and Willie have made regular appearances at Fred’s famous club, The Velvet Lounge.

L to R: Fred Anderson, WTTW's Shaunese Teamer, Mwata Bowden, ITVS' Naomi Walker, and Willie Pickens

Over 150 people braved the shopping hordes and the snow to come downtown for the free screening of YOUNG@HEART.

Shaunese Teamer welcomed the crowd and gave a hearty kudos to Independent Lens for its 10+ years of groundbreaking programming.

Audience members commented that the film inspired them to want to go
into show business and take to the stage. Here are some of their other
comments from after the event.

“I’m going to look for a local choir for my husband!”

“Made me want to join a chorus even if I can’t sing.”

“Their singing keeps them going. That gives them something to live for.”

“IT WAS SUPERB! Made our holiday great.”

L to R: Mwata Bowden, Fred Anderson, and Willie Pickens

After the film, the jazz legends came onstage and shared their stories of persistence, passion and their secrets to longevity. Jazz was in its infancy when they were starting out, so there was no one to really show them the way. Now each of them makes it a point to mentor young musicians. Willie and Mwata each spoke of the great contribution that the Velvet Lounge has made in giving jazz musicians young and old a place to experiment and continually push the envelope. Earlier this year, both Mwata and Willie participated in a star-studded tribute to Fred Anderson on his 80th birthday, where Fred’s compositions were performed by a large orchestra in Millenium Park.

Multi-instrumentalist Mwata Bowden speaks about passion.

› Continue reading

Tags: Chicago, Independent Lens, jazz, WTTW, Young at Heart

Watch HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE: A Paris Jazz Story Tonight on Great Performances

Ada Bricktop Smith, Mabel Mercer and guests at Bricktop's, a popular jazz club in Paris.

After World War I, many African Americans remained or returned to Europe, and over the next two decades, created an expatriate community of musicians, entertainers, dancers, and entrepreneurs, primarily congregating in Paris’ hilly Montmartre neighborhood. Based on the book by William Shack, HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE: A Paris Jazz Story looks at the impact of African American performers and musicians during the great jazz era of Paris.

HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE airs tonight, August 26, on Great Performances on PBS (check local listings).

Learn more about tonight’s broadcast and watch a preview >>

Tags: African American, Great Performances, jazz, Paris

Watch BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life Tonight on Independent Lens

Winner for Best Documentary at the 2008 News and Documentary Emmys:

BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life: As Duke Ellington’s co-composer, arranger, and right-hand man, Billy Strayhorn wrote some of the greatest American music of the 20th century. But as a gay man in the ’40s and ’50s, Strayhorn had to lead a discreet existence, while Ellington played to thunderous applause on center stage. BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life tells the story of the unheralded man who changed jazz and popular music forever, maintaining artistic and personal integrity, while challenging prejudice along the way.

Check out the preview below:

BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life airs tonight at 10:00 PM (check local listings) on Independent Lens on PBS

Tags: gay, jazz, online video