Jeff Kaufman is the writer, director and producer of the film, The Savoy King, a feature documentary about Swing-era drummer-bandleader Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom.  In The Savoy King, Kaufman weaves together newly filmed stories from remarkable people who knew Chick Webb at every phase of his life, with quotes from some of the greatest figures in Jazz history. It features Bill Cosby voicing the words of Chick Webb, Tyne Daly as Jazz publicist Helen Oakley Dance, Ron Perlman as Gene Krupa, Andy Garcia as Mario Bauzá, and Danny Glover as Count Basie.

In addition to this project, Kaufman has produced eight short films for Amnesty International, including a video for AI/USA’s new Maternal Mortality campaign, and a profile of former Mexican prisoner of conscience Gen. Jose Gallardo (featuring Edward James Olmos).

Kaufman also produced-directed the feature documentary Brush With Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman. Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of The United States, wrote, “Brush With Life is fascinating . . . I was totally captivated by this film.”

In addition, he has produced, written, and/or directed programs for The Discovery Channel (including a special on the World Trade Center Recovery effort), The History Channel, The Learning Channel, and a documentary on the history of the series COPS. In addition, he produced a video on behalf of Iranian-American political prisoner Haleh Esfandiari (featuring Tyne Daly), the bio-film for the Howard Dean presidential campaign (with director Doug Liman), and a short pro bono film for the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic in New Orleans.

Prior to his documentary work, Kaufman hosted-produced daily political/cultural talk radio programs in Los Angeles and Vermont; contributed cartoons to The New Yorker and illustrations to The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times; wrote and illustrated several children’s books; and exhibited paintings in a number of galleries.

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