A guide to jazz on film, at MJF51 and beyond.

The art of jazz as celebrated in film has been a staple of the Monterey Jazz Festival in the past. This year is no exception.

Two cinematic tributes will be on the program: Electric Heart: Don Ellis The Man, His Times, His Music and My Name is Albert Ayler.

Electric Heart, directed by Jon Vizzusi, is a tribute to the late trumpet player who pioneered jazz/funk fusion before Miles Davis ever got around to it.

The film includes testimonials from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gunther Schuller and restored musical footage from the 1966 MJF, the Concord Jazz Festival and a PBS special shot in San Francisco.

Each film at the 51st MJF festival offers a unique window into the jazz world. But just in case you don’t make it to either, here are some random recommendations for other jazz or jazz- and music-themed movies you can catch on DVD or, perhaps, through the Internet.

Jazz on a Summer’s Day, the documentary released in 1960 about the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, was definitely a game-changer.

The performances by Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Giuffre, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mullligan, Chico Hamilton, Mahalia Jackson and a scat-singing Anita O’Day are just astonishing. If you have to see one jazz film, this is the one– forget Ken Burns’ heavyhanded PBS approach.

Other jazz films worth seeing, listed in no particular order:

Straight, No Chaser, the 1988 documentary about the late, great Thelonious Monk, whose jaggedly beautiful sounds can be heard by listeners being put on hold when they call the Weekly.

Triumph of the Underdog, another docu about the groundbreaking, perennially beleaguered bassist Charles Mingus.

A Great Day In Harlem, Jean Bach’s film recreation of a famous Esquire magazine group portrait of 56 jazz musicians gathered on 125th Street.

Let’s Get Lost, photographer-director Bruce Weber’s gorgeous tribute to the hopelessly hip trumpeter Chet Baker.

Round Midnight, Bertrand Tavernier’s fictional account of the life and times of a musician loosely based on Bud Powell (the character is portrayed in the movie by the tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon).

Mo’ Better Blues, Spike Lee’s take on the jazz scene, marred by marginally anti-Semitic portrayals of Jewish nightclub owners.

Lest we forget local traditions, let’s add two more:

And… no roundup would be complete without mentioning Monterey Pop, the groundbreaking treatment of the 1967 Monterey festival. Directed by D.A. Pennebaker, who also helmed Don’t Look Back, a documentary about a little-known folk singer named Bob Dylan, MP is the best rock movie that has been made. Ever.

Electric Heart: Don Ellis The Man, His Times, His Music (5:30-7:30pm Saturday, Jazz Theater) and My Name is Albert Ayler (also at the Jazz Theater, from 4:30-6:30pm Sunday).