An improvised jazz session with some of the greats from the 1950s era including Ella Fitzgerald.

Improvisational jazz performance filmed in 1950 by Gjon Mili plus Duke Ellington Trio filmed in July 1966, Count Basie at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1977, Joe Pass 1979, Ella Fitzgerald 1979, and Oscar Peterson at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1977.

Art Tatum: The Art of Jazz Piano is still the only documentary portrait of the greatest jazz pianist ever. Using photographs and some rare footage of Tatum and his contemporaries, the film reconstructs his genius. Included are interviews with musicians who played with him or who were influenced strongly by him: Guitarists Tiny Grimes & Les Paul, and pianists Marian McPartland, Hank Jones, Dick Hyman and George Shearing. Their reminiscences and demonstrations underline Tatum's status as the "musician's musician."