Passing Through theorizes that jazz is one of the purest expressions of African American culture, embodying the struggles of generations of Black people going back to slavery, now hijacked by a white culture that brutally exploits jazz musicians for profit. Accordingly, the opening seven-minute credit sequence is an homage to jazz and jazz musicians.

“Passing Through attempted to encompass both the burgeoning creative consciousness of the central character musician Eddie Warmack, as well as the sounds of authentic jazz by Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Grover Washington on the soundtrack; it remains an invaluable film-outcry” (Albert Johnson).