Jazz. Episode seven, Dedicated to chaos
(DVD)

"PBS DVD Gold."

Cinematography, Buddy Squires, Ken Burns ; editor, Erik Ewers.

Commentary, Wynton Marsalis, Arvell Shaw, Joya Sherrill, Albert Murray, Stanley Crouch, Gary Giddins, Mercedes Ellington, Milt Hinton, John Sanders, Stan Levy, Jimmy Rowles ; narrator, Keith David.

When America enters WWII in 1941, swing becomes a symbol of democracy and entertainers like Dave Brubeck, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw take their music to the armed forces overseas. In Nazi-occupied Europe, gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt blends jazz with his own musical traditions. In New York Billie Holiday is unofficial queen despite a growing addiction to narcotics. Duke Ellington, assisted by the gifted young arranger, Billy Strayhorn, brings his music to ever-greater heights. After dark a small underground of gifted young musicians led by the trumpet virtuoso Dizzy Gillespie and saxophonists Charlie Parker and Ben Webster begin to develop a new fast and intricate way of playing, developing a new music called bebop. Meanwhile in 1945, black soldiers return home to the same racism they fought against, and a growing unrest sets the seeds for future rebellions.

DVD, stereo.

English dialogue; closed captioned for the hearing impaired.