

Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Genres
Overview
Blues as a genre shaped the sound of jazz in the early 20th century and directly led to the creation of rock 'n' roll in the '50s. The scales, chords, and progressions of blues as a musical form can be found in styles from jazz to rock to contemporary R&B.
Details
Budget
$0
Revenue
$0
Runtime
85 min
Release Date
1993-11-02
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Vote Count
1
Vote Average
6
Keith David
Self - Host
Robert Palmer
Self - Commentator
Albert Murray
Self - Commentator
Chuck Berry
Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong
Self (archive footage)
Count Basie
Self (archive footage)
Big Bill Bronzy
Self
Willie Dixon
Self
W.C. Handy
Self
John Lee Hooker
Self
Son House
Self
Mick Jagger
Self
Louis Jordan
Self
B.B. King
Self
Charlie Parker
Self
Bessie Smith
Self (archive footage)
Dinah Washington
Self (archive footage)
Muddy Waters
Self (archive footage)
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Self (archive footage)
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7.3
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0.0
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