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Film / Video Review
Jazz Seen-William Claxton


By Javier Antonio Quinones Ortiz

Few artists of William Claxton's standing ever garner appraisals that approach their own level of genius. Fortunately, Julian Benedikt, a High Priest of impeccable vision and achievement, ministers to the life and work of the jazz photographer through one of the best extant documentaries of its kind ever.

The documentary film Jazz Seen gives viewers several prospects into Claxton. Sundry aspects of his personal life, as they pertain to his superlative work, are touched and expounded upon with the utmost editorial, scholarly and cinematographic care. His work ethic, technique, and art philosophy are well documented and illustrated. A wide array of figures from varying professional contexts, not generally known for gushing over anyone’s work within or without their respective domains, offer unheard off praise for Claxton’s work and character. The reenacted vignettes of Claxton’s life are up to par with the overall quality of this film that is edited and written, as well as experienced, as jazz music. The wise use, for example, of visual transitional spaces, equivalent in feel, intent and scope to silence in musical works, allows one to breath-in the marvelous photographic work interspersed throughout the masterful editing done by Andrew Hulme. On one occasion, after gazing at a Miles Davis portrait, the silent fading leaves his image imbedded in one’s brain, just as Ornette Coleman’s gaze remains with you after the film’s parting shot. The music score is fantastic, the flow is ably paced, the excellence of the imaging and photography is as good as one could expect, and the result is just as entertaining as it is inspirational and educational.

If I could only photograph Claxton while he works… (Sigh) Daydreaming aside, not enough praise can be heaped on this film.

Aside from the previously linked Claxton and Benedikt web pages, all technical information can be obtained at: Jazz Seen.

Director & Screenplay: Julian Benedikt
Year of Production: 2001
Music: Till Broenner
Length: 77min, 2,190m
Format: 35 mm, color, 1:1.85
Original Version: English
Subtitled Versions: German
Sound Technology: Dolby SR

EuroArts Entertainment Filmproduktions GmbH
Hohenzollerndamm 150
14199 Berlin/Germany
phone +49-30-88 70 81 00
fax +49-30-88 70 81 70
email: info@euroarts.com
http://www.euroarts.com/

www.williamclaxton.com
www.julianbenedikt.com


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