The Last of the First

The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band during its sunset years: 87-year-old Al Casey, who had worked closely with Fats Waller throughout the 1930s; guitarist Lawrence Lucie, 95 years young, from the bands of Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter and Duke Ellington; saxophonist Bubba Brooks, 79, who was with Bill Doggett; Edwin Swanston, 80, pianist with Louis Armstrong's Orchestra; 91-year-old drummer Johnny Blowers, ex-Bunny Berigan, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra; Ivan Rolle, 85, bassist with Jonah Jones; and 88-year-old Laurel Watson, one-time vocalist with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Baron's cameras record the musicians through their tours and concerts, capturing their joy in performing together. A celebration of the jazz spirit.

• Release date
• May 2, 2004
• Runtime
• 88 min
• Genres
• Documentary
• Director
• Anja Baron

Cast

A

Albert Vollmer himself

J

Joey Morant himself

B

Bobby Pring himself

B

Bubba Brooks himself

E

Edwin Swanston himself

A

Al Casey himself

L

Lawrence Lucie himself

A

Alex Layne himself