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Jazz S1E2 — The Gift: 1917-1924

8.2

Jazz•Season 1•Episode 2

The Gift: 1917-1924

8.2/10 · 139 votesJan 9, 2001109 min

Ranked #2 of 10 in Season 1•+0.2 vs season avg

How can one explain the genius of a Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington? Blessed with skill and talent far exceeding their peers, one can only define what they possess as a gift from the gods. These early portraits are imperative, because both figures have been

Directed byKen Burns

Previous episodeE1 · Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917 Next episodeE3 · Our Language: 1924 -1929

Seasons1

Season 1 Episodes10

Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917 still

Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917

The Gift: 1917-1924 still

E2 8.2Now viewing

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

"The Gift: 1917-1924" is episode 2 of Jazz season 1. It scored 8.2/10 from 139 votes, ranking #2 of 10 episodes this season (season average 8.0). Directed by Ken Burns, it aired on January 9, 2001.

Next: E3 · Our Language: 1924 -1929 Best of Season 1