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The Jazz Ambassadors


The Cold War and civil rights collide in this remarkable story of music, diplomacy, and race. Beginning in 1955, when the United States asked its greatest jazz artists to travel the world as cultural ambassadors, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and their racially diverse band members faced a painful dilemma: How could they represent a country that still practiced Jim Crow segregation? The documentary reveals how the US State Department unwittingly gave the burgeoning civil rights movement a major voice on the world stage just when it needed one most. Drawing on an incredible performance archive and detailed personal accounts of the tours, as well as cinematic reconstructions of crucial sequences, the film immerses viewers in this fascinating journey, accompanied by a truly swinging soundtrack.

Event Location and Ticket Information

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Jacob Burns Film Center
364 Manville Road
Pleasantville, 10570
Handicap Accessible? Yes

Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Times: 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm

Ticket pricing:

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Presenter: Jacob Burns Film Center
Presenter Phone: 9147475555
Presenter Website: https://burnsfilmcenter.org/

Sponsor Message

This series is sponsored by Adam R. Rose and Peter R. McQuillan