Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns [VHS]

Whether it's hot or cool, bebop or blues, big band or a lone guy on a mournful sax, jazz is the all-American musical idiom. In this long-awaited series, documentarian Ken Burns traces the 100-year history of a rich, varied art form and its most influential composers and performers. 6 years in the making, 2,400 still photos, 2,000 film clips, 75 interviews, 500 pieces of recorded music-the numbers behind this sweeping effort are staggering. Equally impressive is the sharp commentary, especially the outspoken narrative of Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter and Lincoln Center's artistic director of jazz. About 19 hours on 10 cassettes.