Connect with us
Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues
Image: TIFF

Film

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues Tells Satchmo’s Whole Story in His Own Words 

TIFF 2022: Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, somehow the first-ever comprehensive documentary about the life and work of the jazz legend, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and it has the absolute perfect director. That’s Sacha Jenkins, the journalist-turned-documentarian who was at TIFF in 2021 with Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James. Now he’s turned his sights on a different musical figure from a different era. 

Jenkins was born the same year, 1971, that Armstrong died, but he shows a profound understanding of the subject matter, including political aspects that are highly relevant decades later. With an Apple TV+ release scheduled for October, Black & Blues is one of the year’s best music documentaries. 

While not quite as buried as the footage that made up last year’s Oscar-winning Summer of Soul, Black & Blues is clearly aiming for something similar. The film draws much of its material from Armstrong’s audio diaries, as well as a huge amount of video footage. And on top of both, there’s all of his great music, which we got to hear much of. 

Louis Armstrong was born at the dawn of the 20th century, in 1900, and ended up one of the most important artists of that century. Known as “Satchmo” and “Pops,” Armstrong both sang and played the trumpet, and was known for such classic songs as “What a Wonderful World,” “Hello Dolly” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Armstrong, like Elvis Presley, is associated strongly with multiple cities, including New Orleans (where he was born, and whose airport now bears his name) and New York (where he lived for the last decades of his life), as well as all the many places he played. Rapper Nas, also from Queens, reads some of Armstrong’s writings.

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues

Armstrong was married four times, but it’s his fourth wife and widow, Lucille, who is featured most of all. 

Unsurprisingly, race takes up an outsized role in the story. Armstrong personally integrated all sorts of venues and institutions and insisted on never playing places where he couldn’t stay. He also realized at some point that even the most racist of white people seemed to be fans of his, and the charge is raised off the performer engaging in minstrelsy. 

Later, Armstrong is shown sharing his reluctance to directly participate in civil rights protests, opting to donate his money instead. While he later says that he feared getting hit in the phase could end his career as a trumpet player, a lot of his argument boils down to the Michael Jordan “Republicans buy sneakers too” arguments of decades later. 

More than 50 years after his death, Louis Amstrong’s legacy is ripe for rediscovery by younger generations, and Sacha Jenkins’ astonishing documentary could be the project that does it. 

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues lands on Apple TV+ October 28. 

The 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival takes place from September 8–18Find all our coverage here.

Written By

Stephen Silver is a journalist and film critic based in the Philadelphia area. He is the co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle and a Rotten Tomatoes-listed critic since 2008, and his work has appeared in New York Press, Philly Voice, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Tablet, The Times of Israel, and RogerEbert.com. In 2009, he became the first American journalist to interview both a sitting FCC chairman and a sitting host of "Jeopardy" on the same day.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Lauryn Hill Joins Drake On Stage During Night 1 Of Wireless Festival

Celebrity

Taylor Rooks Seemingly Responds To Drake’s Mention In Unreleased Song From “ICEMAN” Livestream

Celebrity

Jurassic World Rebirth review: Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey help the franchise roar back to life

Film

Tyler Perry Pops Out At Beyonce Show In Paris Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Celebrity

15 Best Military Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Film

Fat Joe accused of sex acts with minors in $20 million lawsuit filed by former hype man, rapper denies allegations

Celebrity

Jameela Jamil Net Worth: Actress, Advocate, and Influencer

Celebrity

The Best Albums of 2025 (So Far)

Film

Lil Wayne “Tha Carter VI” Review

Celebrity

‘Christy’ Review: Brothers Estranged by the Care System Rebuild Their Bond in a Moving Irish Crowdpleaser

Film

Mello Buckzz’s Boyfriend Shot-&-Killed During Her Mixtape Release Party

News

Eminem’s Stalker Gets Lengthy Prison Sentence For Home Invasion

News

YNW Melly’s Family Shows Up To Support Him At Court Hearing

Celebrity

Sabrina Carpenter unveils new album art ‘approved by God’ after controversy over original’s suggestive imagery

Celebrity

Trillian, Busta Rhymes’s Son, Prepares To Inherit The Throne: On NLE Choppa Collab, Lyrically Sparring With His Dad & The Significance Of Lil Wayne’s “10,000 Bars”

Celebrity

F1 Review: Brad Pitt’s Sports Drama Has Exciting Racing Scenes And A Bloated Runtime

Film

Connect