Upcoming Jazz Biopics

This Spring marks the release of three biographical films about iconic American jazz musicians. Watch the trailers and learn about the films like Nina, Born to Be Blue, and Miles Ahead.

Born to Be Blue

Actor Ethan Hawke portrays singer and trumpeter Chet Baker in Born to Be Blue, a biographical drama directed by Robert Budreau. The movie is not an exact recreation of Baker’s life, but it does touch on actual events. Events that made his life more colorful, like his drug addiction and his struggle to play the trumpet after losing his front teeth. Actress Carmen Ejogo plays Elaine, the musician’s love interest, who serves as a fictional culmination of the women in Baker’s life.

To prepare for the role, Hawke worked with musician Ben Promane to learn how to play the hold the trumpet like Baker. The film's soundtrack was produced, arranged, and recorded by jazz pianist and composer David Braid, who assembled an impressive musical group to record Baker's hits. Drummer Terry Clarke, who worked with Baker, was among one of the musicians on the soundtrack.

The film first premiered at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival and will be released on March 25th.

Miles Ahead

Miles Ahead features Don Chealde as jazz revolutionary Miles Davis. The film, which was named after Davis’ infamous 1957 album of the same name, depicts Davis as a fist fighting, gun-slinging, and eccentric defender of his music.

Chealde landed the role long before the film’s conception. In 2006, Davis’ nephew, Vince Wilburn, told reporters that he wanted Chealde to portray his uncle if a movie about him was ever planned. From learning how to play the trumpet from friend and musician Wynton Marsalis to mastering Davis' signature raspy whisper, Chealde worked tirelessly to emulate the infamous musician. The soundtrack features a mashup of original Davis recordings and improvisations by contemporary trumpeter Keyon Harrold.

The film, which marks Chealde's directorial debut, closed the 2015 New York Film Festival and will be released on April 1st.

Nina

Nina, directed by Cynthia Mort, tells the story of jazz singer and pianist Nina Simone, her tumultuous career, and her involvement in the civil rights movement. The film’s production caused a slew of controversy when it was announced in 2012 that actress Zoe Saldana would be playing Simone. Although Saldana isn't known as a singer, she did her own singing in the film.

For the role, Saldana wore makeup and prosthetics to darken her skin and make her look more like the singer. Many criticized the film’s producers, arguing that a black actress should have been chosen for the role instead. Fans weren’t the only ones unhappy with the casting: the singer’s daughter, Lisa Celeste Stroud known by her stage name Simone, stated, “My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark. Appearance-wise this is not the best choice.” The film is scheduled to be released on April 22nd.