A Bundle of Blues: A quick trip to the jazz age

Is it worth your time?

If you have ten minutes and a craving for some genuine, dusty-sounding jazz, sure. This isn't a narrative heavy-hitter like The Birth of a Nation or anything that requires your brain to work overtime.

It's for people who like music history. If you need a plot or dialogue that actually goes somewhere, you're gonna hate this. It’s just music, plain and simple.

The Vibe

There is no fluff here. Duke Ellington is just doing his thing, and the band is tight. There’s something about the way these old sound recordings capture the room—it feels like you're sitting in the back of the club with a drink you probably shouldn't be having.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of A Bundle of Blues (1933) through its definitive frames.

Ivy Anderson really carries the whole thing when she hits the stage. Her take on 'Stormy Weather' has this weight to it that makes the rest of the short feel like a warm-up act. Seriously, watch her face while she sings. She’s not just reciting lyrics; she looks like she’s lived every single one of them.

Odd Little Bits

• The camera work is pretty stiff, but what do you expect from the era?
• The lighting makes the orchestra look like they're playing in a dream, or maybe just a really smoky basement.
• The transition between songs is practically non-existent. It just jumps right in.

It’s funny to think about how much we over-produce music videos today. In this, it’s just the guys in their suits, the brass section glowing under the lights, and the sound just filling the space. No cuts every half-second. No frantic editing to hide the fact that nobody can play their instruments.

It’s just... jazz. 🎷

It’s not trying to change the world. It’s not trying to be The Wandering Jew or some grand epic. It’s a snapshot. You watch it, you tap your foot for a bit, and then you go on with your day. That’s enough for me.