Jazz a la Mode Film Series - The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America

The vivid archival clips of Harlem in the '30's illuminate The Savoy King, Jeff Kaufman's lively portrait of bandleader/drummer Chick Webb, whose music intersected with and rivaled that of jazz's most illustrious names. Although Webb suffered from spinal TB, making him dwarfed and hunchbacked, his immense popularity helped topple racial barriers as he became the King of Swing at Harlem's only recially integrated nightclub.

Come early for live jazz before the show and stick around after for Q&A with Jazz a la Mode's Tom Reney.

Tickets available at amherstcinema.org.

Presented in partnership with the Amherst Cinema and The UMass Fine Arts Center.