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Jazz S1E1 — Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917

8.3

Jazz•Season 1•Episode 1

Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917

8.3/10 · 181 votesJan 9, 200182 min

Ranked #1 of 10 in Season 1•+0.3 vs season avg

"Gumbo" traces the roots of jazz from the 1800s to 1917. The viewer will catch glimpses of Jelly Roll Morton, who erroneously claimed to have invented jazz, and the tragic, though influential, figure of trumpeter Buddy Bolden.

Directed byKen Burns

Next episodeE2 · The Gift: 1917-1924

Seasons1

Season 1 Episodes10

Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917 still

E1 8.3Now viewing

Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917

The Gift: 1917-1924 still

The Gift: 1917-1924

Our Language: 1924 -1929 still

Our Language: 1924 -1929

The True Welcome: 1929-1934 still

The True Welcome: 1929-1934

Swing: Pure Pleasure - 1935-1937 still

Swing: Pure Pleasure - 1935-1937

Swing: The Velocity of Celebration - 1937-1939 still

Swing: The Velocity of Celebration - 1937-1939

Dedicated to Chaos: 1940-1945 still

Dedicated to Chaos: 1940-1945

Risk: 1945-1955 still

Risk: 1945-1955

The Adventure: 1956-1960 still

The Adventure: 1956-1960

A Masterpiece by Midnight: 1960 to the Present still

A Masterpiece by Midnight: 1960 to the Present

Cast17

Keith David

Keith David

Narrator (voice)

S

Sidney Bechet

Self (archive footage)

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Self (archive footage)

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington

Self (archive footage)

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

Self (archive footage)

Artie Shaw

Artie Shaw

Self (archive footage)

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday

Self (archive footage)

Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller

Self (archive footage)

Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck

Self (archive footage)

Art Tatum

Art Tatum

Self (archive footage)

John Coltrane

John Coltrane

Self (archive footage)

Art Blakey

Art Blakey

Self (archive footage)

Crew1

Ken Burns

Ken Burns

Director

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Episode Summary

"Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917" is episode 1 of Jazz season 1. It scored 8.3/10 from 181 votes, ranking #1 of 10 episodes this season (season average 8.0). Directed by Ken Burns, it aired on January 9, 2001.

Next: E2 · The Gift: 1917-1924 Best of Season 1