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The Last of the First (2004)

Directed by Anja Baron

Documentary · 1h 28m

The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band during its sunset years: 87-year-old Al Casey, who had worked closely with Fats Waller throughout the 1930s; guitarist Lawrence Lucie, 95 years young, from the bands of Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter and Duke Ellington; saxophonist Bubba Brooks, 79, who was with Bill Doggett; Edwin Swanston, 80, pianist with Louis Armstrong's Orchestra; 91-year-old drummer Johnny Blowers, ex-Bunny Berigan, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra; Ivan Rolle, 85, bassist with Jonah Jones; and 88-year-old Laurel Watson, one-time vocalist with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Baron's cameras record the musicians through their tours and concerts, capturing their joy in performing together. A celebration of the jazz spirit.

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Cast

A
Albert Vollmer himself
J
Joey Morant himself
B
Bobby Pring himself
B
Bubba Brooks himself
E
Edwin Swanston himself
A
Al Casey himself
L
Lawrence Lucie himself
A
Alex Layne himself
J
John G. Blowers, Jr. himself
I
Ivan 'Loco' Rolle himself
C
Calvin Lynch himself
L
Laurel Watson herself

Crew

Director
Anja Baron
Editor
Philip Shane
Producer
Anja Baron

Details

Release date
2004-05-02
Runtime
1h 28m
Genres
Documentary
Original language
EN
Production
Kenja Media Productions