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A new documentary is shaking up the history of jazz—by rewriting it.
Echoes of Tradition, a powerful one-hour film by award-winning director Ben Makinen, shines a spotlight on the overlooked contributions of Native American, Black, Creole, European, and LGBTQ+ communities to the origins and evolution of jazz. The film is now available to stream for free on Patreon in a limited-time, exclusive director’s cut release.
“Echoes is beautifully shot and edited with a relaxed feel that flows like water,” says Bruce Boyd Raeburn, former curator of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
Makinen’s film dives deep into the cultural intersectionality between Indigenous rhythms and the African diaspora, revealing the deep roots and diverse voices that have long shaped America’s most iconic musical art form.
“All the credit's gone to the Africans for the wonderful rhythm in jazz, but I think a lot of it should go to the American Indian,” said Ruth Ellington, Duke Ellington’s sister, a quote that underscores the film’s central theme.
Featuring live performances, archival footage, and interviews with GRAMMY winners and renowned cultural figures, Echoes of Tradition lifts the veil on stories too often left untold in jazz history. Among the featured artists and experts:
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R. Carlos Nakai – Legendary Native American flutist and producer, also serving as cultural advisor and producer
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Julia Keefe – Nez Perce jazz vocalist and Indigenous jazz advocate
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Delbert Anderson – Navajo/Diné trumpeter blending traditional sounds with contemporary jazz
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Endea Owens – GRAMMY, Emmy, and Peabody-winning bassist
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Ingrid Jensen – Juno-winning trumpeter and Dean of Jazz Arts at the Manhattan School of Music
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Tanya Darby, Chantil Dukart, Sherrie Maricle, and others
Soundtrack highlights include Nakai’s signature flute improvisations, new work from Artemis drummer Allison Miller, and tracks from Andromeda Turre’s award-winning album From the Earth, alongside original music by Oscar-nominated composer Mali Obomsawin.
Echoes of Tradition doesn’t just revisit the past—it reshapes the narrative for future generations. It honours the resilience and reverence of culture bearers who continue to preserve and pass on their communities’ legacies, while making space for underrepresented voices in jazz.
The film also boldly embraces LGBTQ+ musicians, emphasizing how their journeys and creative expressions embody the essence of jazz—freedom, improvisation, and fearless self-expression.
Distributed nationally through the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), the film is now set to reach public television stations across the U.S. The production is currently seeking underwriting partners aligned with its mission to highlight marginalized contributions to jazz.
While the film has sparked conversations around consent and storytelling ethics—particularly regarding a few participants who later expressed discomfort—Makinen and his team have affirmed their commitment to legal transparency and ethical production practices. Producers R. Carlos Nakai and Terri Pederson continue to support the film and its message.
This isn’t the end of the story for Bmakin Film. The company is already in post-production on We Are Here: Women in Jazz, a forthcoming documentary exploring the balance of masculine and feminine energy in the jazz world and the barriers women continue to face.
In partnership with the International Modern Film Alliance, the Bali International AI Film Festival, and Tidal Breeze Jazz Arts, Echoes of Tradition is poised to become a landmark in music documentary storytelling—one that challenges the canon, celebrates cultural diversity, and insists that the full story of jazz must include every voice that helped create it.