Cinema without music cannot be understood, many times the history of music in cinema is understood as part of its soundtrack, to create a setting or as an accompaniment to the projection. But we want you to discover the films in which music and specifically Jazz are the axis and plot of exciting films.

1.- Miles Ahead (2015).

It covers part of Miles Davis’ life and takes its name from the album released in 1957.

Starring Don Cheadle, who also directed it and wrote the script in which he plays the musician, accompanied by Emayatzy Corinealdi and Ewan McGregor.

The film starts with Davis giving an interview in which he tells his story. The main line is developed with an attempt by the musician to re-create in the midst of a period of strong drug addiction in the 1970s; plus a fictional story with a journalist (McGregor). While all this is happening, in the film flashbacks occur at different periods of Davis’ life, although not consecutively, focusing on the recording of some of his albums: Kind of Blue, Someday My Prince Will Come, Bitches Brew, among others

For the most part, Miles Ahead received positive reviews, with good comments on Cheadle’s performance as both director and actor, although some were critical of the plot. In addition, it has raised five million dollars.

2.- Whiplash (2014).

It is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle; starring Miles Teller as the young jazz drummer Andrew Neiman who attends one of the best music schools in the country in New York, under the tutelage of the fearsome Jazz player and teacher Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons).

Andrew Neiman’s goal is to succeed at the elite East Coast Conservatory of Music. Terence Fletcher, a teacher known both for his talent and for his rigorous teaching methods, conducts the Conservatory’s best Jazz ensemble. When Fletcher chooses Andrew to join the group, the young man’s life will change.

It premiered in competition in the US in the Drama Category in 2014 as the opening of the Sundance Film Festival on January 16, 2014. And grossed $ 49 million.

3.- All that Jazz (1979).

Also known in Spanish as “The Show Begins”, it is a 1979 American musical film, directed by Bob Fosse and performed by Roy Scheider, Leland Palmer, Ann Reinking, Erzsebet Foldi, Ben Vereen, Cliff Gorman and Jessica Lange in the main roles . The script, written among others by Bob Fosse, is semi-autobiographical, based on his life and professional career as a dancer, choreographer and director.

Winner of four Oscars: for the best artistic direction, the best costume design, the best production and the best soundtrack; nominated for five more awards. Winner of the BAFTA Award for best photography and best editing. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is inspired by Bob Fosse’s intense period of work when he edited his film Lenny and simultaneously prepared the musical Chicago for Broadway in 1975.

4.- Born to be blue (2015).

Biopic sobre el legendario trompetista de jazz Chet Baker (interpretado por Ethan Hawke) en los años 60. La historia se centra en la época en la que Baker comienza a rodar una película sobre sí mismo y se enamora de su compañera de rodaje, la enigmática Jane (Carmen Ejogo). El conflictivo pasado del músico vuelve para atormentarlo, hasta el punto de que parece que nunca volverá a poder ser capaz de componer, pero Jane lo reta a volver a la escena musical en contra de todos los pronósticos.

Born to Be Blue recibió críticas muy positivas logrando un 7 sobre 10 de la crítica. Como curiosidad la Banda Sonora de la película cuenta con dos temas que canta como vocalista el propio actor Ethan Hawke.

5.- New York, New York (1977)

It is an American film of 1977, of musical genre, directed by Martin Scorsese. It was a commercial failure in his day, but his title song sung by Liza Minnelli (“New York, New York”) achieved enormous fame in the Frank Sinatra version.

The argument is based on the fact that on the same day that the Second World War ends, the musician Jimmy Doyle and the singer Francine Evans meet, starting a romance and an artistic couple. But, they live turbulent moments as they seek success.

The film is full of curiosities, the most striking is that Robert De Niro learned to play the saxophone shortly before filming to give more truth to his character; Despite that, the instrument heard in the film is not played by him since it was dubbed by his co-star Georgie Auld.

6.- Bird (1988)

It is a 1988 American biographical film, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Forest Whitaker that chronicles the life of saxophonist Charlie Parker.

The film chronicles the life of legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker, nicknamed “Bird”. Parker’s artistic career was influenced by his use of drugs and alcohol. Jazz fan Clint Eastwood and his screenwriter Oliansky found the images conducive to giving this musician’s biography the wild lifestyle of a brilliant artist in film form.

Although jazz purists were highly critical of the film, Forest Whitaker as Parker won the Best Actor award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe nomination. In addition, the film also won an Oscar for Best Sound.

7.- Cotton Club (1984)

It is a 1984 American film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Starring Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins, Nicolas Cage, James Remar, and Laurence Fishburne in the lead roles.

The argument tells how in 1919, the Dry Law generated a wave of violence that has spread throughout the United States. In New York, the Cotton Club, a cabaret that is the underworld, politicians and celebrities of the moment indulge in forbidden pleasures. A white trumpeter and a black dancer are swept away in a storm where love and ambition are played to the rhythm of tap dancing, Jazz … and machine guns.

The film grossed $ 25 million and despite its more than a dozen nominations, it only received a BAFTA for Best Costume Design.

8.- Kansas City (1996)

1996 American film, directed by Robert Altman, and starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Miranda Richardson, Harry Belafonte and Steve Buscemi.

The film shows modern Jazz musicians playing the roles of famous musicians of the 1930s. Craig Handy plays Coleman Hawkins, Joshua Redman plays Lester Young, and James Carter plays Ben Webster.

The plot centers on 1934 when Kansas City is a city dominated by the mafia and convulsed by crime, racism, and political strife. Meanwhile, Hey-Hey Club customers attend another kind of fight: that of primacy in the jazz world.

9.- Round Midnight (1986)

It is a 1986 American-French musical-dramatic film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and starring Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet and Herbie Hancock.

The story, which chronicles the life of a fictional jazz musician inspired by the figures of saxophonist Lester Young and pianist Bud Powell, is based on the biography of the two called The Dance of the Infidels, written by Francis Paudras and published in 1986.

One night in 1959, in Paris, a weakened Jazz musician amazes the clientele of the “Blue Note” club with the eloquent sound of his sax. Outside the premises, a man too poor to pay for a glass of wine listens enthusiastically. Soon, they will be united by a great friendship. It is based on the lives of pianist Bud Powell and saxophonist Lester Young.

The film was awarded the César for Best Sound and the Oscar for Best Music in 1987.

10.- The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

1989 American film written and directed by Steve Kloves. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges in the lead roles.

Jack Baker and his brother Frank have been working as pianists in party halls for many years. Like all musicians, they have gone through good and bad times, but one night their performance is such a resounding failure that they end up being fired. It is then when they come up with the idea of ​​hiring a singer to relaunch their show.

Did you know all these titles? Do you like these movies? Since we know that you are a great music lover and you have surely discovered some of these 10 titles before, we leave you a bonus of 7 more movies that are worth seeing as a Jazz lover:

We hope you enjoy it!