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Saving Jazz

Leslie Woodhead, Director

2006 | 58 |

Since the 1940s, photographer Herman Leonard has created the definitive visual history of jazz, with classic images of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and hundreds of other music icons. However, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Leonard’s studio, darkroom and part of his photographic archive were badly damaged by eight feet of water. This documentary by Leslie Woodhead follows the 82-year-old photographer on his painful return home and his efforts to rebuild his life’s work. With Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett and others.