After 27 years in the making, Tyler Perry is finally bringing one of his most personal projects to life. The 53-year-old multi-hyphenate writes, directs, and produces the new Netflix film A Jazzman’s Blues — a story rooted in heartbreak, resilience, and a fight against the odds.
Hollywood Unlocked was on the carpet for the film’s premiere, where we spoke with Perry about his latest motion picture. The film tells the story of an interracial couple navigating the dangers and societal pressures of the Deep South in the 1940s — a love challenged at every turn by racism, family secrets, and violence.
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A Jazzman’s Blues holds a particularly special place in Perry’s heart. He first penned the script back in 1995, after meeting and attending a play by the late, legendary playwright August Wilson. Inspired by Wilson’s advice to “write what you want to write,” Perry crafted a story that would remain close to him for decades.
At the time, Perry was at one of the lowest points in his life. He knew that A Jazzman’s Blues couldn’t be his first movie — it wasn’t commercially viable for a struggling artist trying to break into the industry. Instead, he launched his career through stage plays, introducing the world to his iconic Madea character, which ultimately helped him build Tyler Perry Studios, the largest Black-owned production company in the U.S., based in Atlanta.
While A Jazzman’s Blues was timely in the ’90s, Perry shared that the story feels even more relevant today — as debates surrounding Black history, interracial marriage, and systemic racism continue to resurface in modern America.
The film isn’t just a period piece — it’s a reminder of how much progress has been made, and how much further there still is to go.
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“A Jazzman’s Blues” is now streaming on Netflix.