As the Depression drags on, jazz comes as close as ever to being America's music

Swing: Pure Pleasure Jazz

Premiered December 15, 2015
Swing: Pure Pleasure

As the Great Depression drags on, jazz comes as close as it has ever come to being America's popular music

About the Program

Jazz

Jazz has been called the purest expression of American democracy; a music built on individualism and compromise, independence and cooperation. Ken Burns follows the growth and development of jazz music from the gritty streets of New Orleans to Chicago's south side, the speakeasies of Kansas city and to Times Square.

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