Did you know that opera made its American debut in New Orleans (not New York), and that Cuba once referred to New Orleans as its long-lost sister city? The all-encompassing topic of the origins and history of New Orleans jazz demands an epic seven-part documentary series along the lines of The Blues. A mere 104 minutes can’t possibly do it justice, but damn if director Michael Murphy and executive producer/host Terence Blanchard don’t try. (Apart from being a distinguished jazz trumpeter, Blanchard is a prolific composer for such films as Bamboozled, Original Sin, The Comedian, etc.) For those unfamiliar with Jellyroll Morton, Allen Toussaint, Mahalia Jackson, Louis Prima, Irma Thomas, and Louis “Punk Rock” Armstrong, I suggest you have pen and paper in hand to jot down the names of the performers covered for further research. And if you’re like me (and Blanchard), the first thing you’ll do when it’s over is track down a copy of Lennon & McCartney’s “Blackbird.” Playing Virtually at the Digital Gym Cinema. (2019) — Scott Marks
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