Sascha Just

An exploration of Edmond Dédé and Basile Barès were 19th-century New Orleans composers of color. Dédé, born free, was an orchestral composer and violist, known for his opera Morgiane. Barès, born into slavery, was a pianist and composer of music for dance halls, unique for being the only known American composer with a copyright assigned to his work while enslaved.

Patriarch of the famed “First Family of Jazz,” Ellis Marsalis was a master jazz pianist, composer and educator. This intimate documentary delves into the life and career of this music icon, interlaced with rare footage of key moments in US history, and footage of his final live performances. Anecdotes from sons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, Ellis III, Jason, and actor Wendell Pierce, round out the film as Ellis recounts for us the story of his illustrious life.