Duke Ellington

Cohen Film Collection introduces this classic short staring Duke Ellington, featuing a brief vocal by a 19-year-old Billie Holiday, and a performance of Ellington’s jazz composition along symphonic lines. Ellington plays his symphonic jazz piece, “A Rhapsody of Negro Life,” with his orchestra against slice-of-life background scenes.

Duke presents Ivie Anderson (1904-1949) in the first of her two film appearances: many believe her to be his best featured vocalist and was with the Ellington Orchestra between 1931 and 1942.

A made for TV musical revue compiled from Film and TV performances by Jazz greats from the 1930s to 1950s.

Based on the autobiography of photographer, musician, writer, and director Gordon Parks whose subject matter revolved around the African American struggle.

Oscar(R)- and Emmy(R)-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams chronicles the unique history and contemporary legacy of New York City's landmark Apollo Theater in this documentary that weaves together clips from music, comedy and dance performances, interviews with artists including Smokey Robinson and others -- and behind-the-scenes footage of the team that makes the Apollo run.

Jazz musicians tour the world as cultural ambassadors in 1955.