PARIS BLUES

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Kravis Center For The Performing Arts

Kravis Center For The Performing Arts

1961, 98 min, USA. Directed by Martin Ritt, starring Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Interlude by Louis Satchmo Armstrong. Duke Ellington composed the score.

Cosmopolitan, sexy, and smart Paris Blues captures the expat experience and the mid-twentieth century jazz scene in the City of Light. Satchmo himself spoke to Jazz Journal about Paris Blues in March 1961: “The part I play in the picture ain’t big, but it’s important – I see to that! … Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman, they’re supposed to be jazz musicians. Paul plays trombone; he’s really been taking lessons from Billy Byers, who plays the music for the film. Sidney, he’s supposed to be a saxophone man. That French cat Guy Lafitte taught him to hold his horn right. Duke got the band sounding his way and some of the music is real pretty” (Leon Nock, Jazz Journal).