Jam Session is a 1942 American short film, directed by Josef Berne, which shows Duke Ellington and his orchestra performing "C Jam Blues".
In 2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed the 3-minute, black-and-white film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
The short 16 mm film was a Soundie, distributed by the Soundie Distributing Corporation
for playback in the Panoram film jukebox. Jam Session is included on the DVD Duke Ellington: Early Tracks from the Master of Swing (2006).
The orchestra
In order of appearance:
- Duke Ellington
- Ray Nance
- Rex Stewart
- Ben Webster
- Joe Nanton
- Barney Bigard
- Sonny Greer