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TV / Film

George Tillman Jr Set To Direct Miles Davis Film

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
November 16, 2011

George Tillman, Jr. has been signed to develop and direct the upcoming feature film, Miles Davis, announced producer Nick Davis Raynes (Grandson of former 20th Century-Fox & Beverly Hills Hotel—among others—owner Marvin Davis). Producers Nick Davis Raynes and Ged Dickinson have partnered with Gregory Davis, Miles' eldest son to bring the true story of Miles Davis' life to the screen and preserve his legacy. The script is loosely based on Gregory Davis' book Dark Magus: The Jekyll and Hyde Life ...

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TV / Film

Neal Hefti: The Movie Years

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
November 11, 2011

Even among the giants of the orchestra business, Neal Hefti was special. Over just three decades, the composer-arrangerturned out masterful bop, swing and film charts with a distinctly jaunty and jovial feel. In the 1940s, his Repetition (1947) for Norman Granz and his bop charts for Harry James' band in 1949 are perfect examples. In the 1950s, his Verve and Roulette arrangements for Count Basie re-imagined the famed swing band—dropping a new, sportier, finger-snapping engine into the orchestra's instrumental chasis. ...

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TV / Film

New 'Jazz, Period.' Film Takes a Stirring Look at Musical Mentorship and Loss

Source: Randy Cole
November 7, 2011

Montreal filmmaker Randy Cole adds another unique film to his growing public collection of short films on Jazz, with 'Pops,' a touching look at the bond between father and son musicians. Respected Montreal trumpeter Kevin Dean tells the story of his ballad 'Pops,' which he composed for his father in Mason City Iowa. Dean wrote the song at the request of his father, and practiced it with the elder Dean, just months before his father's sudden passing. Montreal's best musicians ...

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TV / Film

YouTube Now Broadcasting Frank Gambale TV Worldwide

Source: Josh Vittek
October 23, 2011

GRAMMY winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale announced today the Frank Gambale TV Channel on YouTube. Flattered by the amount of user generated content already on Youtube, Frank is heeding the call to communicate directly with his fans in a new, more intimate way. With over 30 years of material under his belt, there is a huge archive of footage he is now inspired to share; much of it never seen before including behind the scenes, candid material and instructional content. ...

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TV / Film

MMW: Fly in a Bottle Doc

Source: JamBase
October 13, 2011

MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD TO RELEASE THE FILM, FLY IN A BOTTLE, ON DVD OCTOBER 25 Taking a look into the minds and lives of Medeski Martin & Wood, drummer/ percussionist, Billy Martin, directed the first feature film in the band's history titled, Fly in a Bottle. Working through a yearlong period of personal 16mm film and HD camcorder footage of MMW on the road and in the studio during the Radiolarians recordings, the film provides an extremely intimate portrait ...

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TV / Film

Film Project Amplifies Loss and Hope in Death of Jazz Great, Husband Brecker

Source: Groove Notes
October 13, 2011

The documentary More to Live For screens at the Gig Harbor Film Festival this Saturday. People from the Pacific Northwest will finally get an opportunity to view the story of three men affected by Leukemia seeking out a bone marrow transplant, including the late tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker. In anticipation of the screening, I spoke with Susan Brecker, Michael Brecker's widow and the producer of the film by phone. In this interview, Susan told me what the film was all ...

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TV / Film

Singer Jules Day Resists American Idol's Effect

Source: Jules Day
October 12, 2011

American Idol's unintended effect on the public is felt at nearly every performance, according to up-and-coming Los Angeles-based singer Jules Day. “There are at least a few people at every gig that insist on trying to mold me into an American Idol-type singer with their after-the-show suggestions. They feel they've been given the green light now to be Simon Cowell. I do appreciate their good intent, but I'm not that type of singer. I don't belt out or sing power ...

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TV / Film

DocuClub NY Screens "Finding Carlton"

Source: Susheel Kurien
October 4, 2011

Our October DocuClub will take place on Tuesday, October 4, 7 p.m., at DCTV, located at 87 Lafayette (at Walker). This month, we will screen a rough cut of Finding Carlton by Susheel Kurien. The film tells the story of a bygone age of jazz in India through the moving portrait of one of its last survivors, the bebop guitarist Carlton Kitto. Weaving verite scenes of Carlton's life struggles with archival material and poignant encounters with other artists, the film ...

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