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Jazz musicians that have cameos in films.


Hardbopjazz

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The Benny Goodman Story was full of musician cameos including Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Harry James, Buck Clayton, Urbie Green, Stan Getz, Martha Tilton, Ziggy Elman, Ben Pollack, Kid Ory, Babe Russin and Alan Reuss.

Pete Kelly's Blues included Ella Fitzgerlad, Peggy Lee, George Van Eps, Nick Fatool, Matty Matlock and Joe Venuti.

Ella Fitzgerald also appeared (singing "A-Tisket, A-Tasket") in the Abbott & Costello film, Ride 'Em Cowboy.

Annie Ross was quite good in a more than cameo role in Robert Altman's Short Cuts.

The most classic cameo of all time must be Louis Armstrong's appearance in the film Hello Dolly.

Edit to add the second most classic cameo is probably Count Basie & His Orchestra in Blazing Saddles.

And then there was this:

I still gotta see that movie one of these days, no matter how awful it might be.

Edited by duaneiac
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New Orleans (1947) features Louis Armstrong with Billie Holiday, Woody Herman and also the Original New Orleans Ragtime Band (Kid Ory, Red Callender, etc).

Paris Blues - Louis Armstrong (again!) and Michel Portal.

Man With The Golden Arm (Sinatra) has Shelly Manne and Shorty Rogers and his Giants.

Edited by Marzz
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26 minutes ago, Rooster_Ties said:

What’s that weird ‘Western’ circa 1969(?) that Elvin was in?

And what’s the story behind that cameo? :wacko:

ZACHARIAH!

 

Gerry Mulligan in BELLS ARE RINGING.

 

Edited by Joe
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There were a lot of musician cameos in Robert Altman's Kansas City, every one from David Murray to Ron Carter to Geri Allen to Russell Malone.

Bobby Troup was in Altman's M*A*S*H

Altman's version of A Prairie Home Companion included pianist/clarinetist Butch Thompson who was once the musical director for that radio program.

Bassist Putter Smith played Mr. Kidd in the James Bond flick, Diamonds Are Forever.

Anita O'Day was by far the best thing in The Gene Krupa Story.

Tito Puente was in Woody Allen's Radio Days and in The Mambo Kings.

Bobby Short was in Hannah and Her Sisters.

Peter Martin, Christoph Luty, Jeff Hamilton and Matt Catingub accompany Dianne Reeves in her scenes in Good Night and Good Luck.

Not film, but there was that one Kung Fu TV episode that Cannonball appeared in too.

 

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On 3/6/2020 at 8:19 AM, Jim Duckworth said:

Art Tatum in the otherwise forgettable Those Fabulous Dorseys or whatever that awful biopic is called.

That silly thing is available on youtube. The "jam session" scene with Tatum also includes Charlie Barnett, Ziggy Elman, both Dorseys, and Ray Bauduc, if memory serves.

 

 

gregmo

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  • 4 weeks later...

Stan Getz is also in that “Get Yourself a College Girl,” as well as some grade c vigilante/revenge thing, the title was something like “The Exterminator” - embarrassing, poor Stan. 

And, of course, Cal Tjader in “For Singles Only.”

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4 hours ago, DMP said:

Stan Getz is also in that “Get Yourself a College Girl,” as well as some grade c vigilante/revenge thing, the title was something like “The Exterminator” - embarrassing, poor Stan. 

And, of course, Cal Tjader in “For Singles Only.”

I just watched Get Yourself a College Girl.   Jimmy Smith is in it too. 

Laurindo Almeida appears playing guitar in the 1954 A Star is Born.    I have a vague memory of someone of note playing piano on-screen in Bullitt but there's nothing in IMDB.   Maybe Lalo Schiffrin who did the music. 

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