Earshot Jazz Films 2007

Earshot Jazz Films 2007

October 23 – November 1, 2007

Co-presented by Northwest Film Forum and the Earshot Jazz Festival

Each year as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival, we present films that shed light on the vibrant history of this great American art form and the lives of some of its greatest composers and performers. Join us for the Seattle premiere of the new documentary ANITA O'DAY: THE LIFE OF A JAZZ SINGER and revivals of newly restored classics LET'S GET LOST, Bruce Weber's acclaimed documentary portrait of jazz singer/trumpeter Chet Baker, and Ron Mann's IMAGINE THE SOUND profiling free jazz innovators.

 

Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer

Sponsored by La Spiga, Easy Street Records and kbcs 91.3fm             Co-presented by Northwest Film Forum and the Earshot Jazz Festival

Oct 23 - Oct 25, 2007

Ian McCrudden, Robbie Cavolina, 2007, USA, 90 minutes

This new film is the first definitive documentary on the life of legendary jazz vocalist Anita O' Day, who passed away last fall. The swing era singer broke race barriers, lived her life boldly and unconventionally, and survived alcoholism, rape, heroin addiction and jail time to become a true jazz icon. In candid interviews with the feisty legend herself, O'Day gives a poignant and often funny account of her jazz odyssey spanning seven decades and 82 albums. The film showcases rare and never before seen footage of O'Day performing with the likes of Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge, Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael, as well as interviews with vocalists, arrangers, TV personalities and friends. An intimate and deeply moving tribute to a jazz diva extraordinaire, THE LIFE OF A JAZZ SINGER zips along at the speed of her renowned up-tempo interpretation of "Sweet Georgia Brown."

Click here to see a trailer and visit the official website

"A masterpiece of the medium, the documentary relates her extraordinary life story as a musician with no softened edges and plenty of extended musical passages."- LA WEEKLY

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Lets Get Lost

Sponsored by La Spiga, Easy Street Records and kbcs 91.3fm , Co-presented by Northwest Film Forum and the Earshot Jazz Festival

Oct 26 - Nov 01, 2007

Bruce Weber, USA, 1988, 35mm, 119 min

In the 1950s, Chet Baker's jazz trumpeting, edgy, intimate crooning and pretty boy good looks epitomized West Coast "cool."When famed photographer Bruce Weber caught up with him three decades later, time and drug addiction had ravaged his life and angelic beauty with deep valleys and crevasses. LET'S GET LOST artfully intercuts gorgeous black and white footage of the gaunt latter-day Baker, with images of the young jazz trumpeter in iconic 1950s early television and film appearances and photographs by William Claxton. Shot by Weber and cinematographer Jeff Preiss during what would turn out to be Baker's final year, the film also includes interviews with friends, family, lovers and associates. This transfixing, bittersweet portrait of the jazz legend won the Critics' Prize at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award. Nearly 20 years since its premiere and nearly 15 since it has been seen in any medium, we're pleased to present a brand new 35mm print of a recent restoration done by Weber himself.

Click here to see a clip

"Jazz music and film have rarely been spun together more evocatively."–Stephen Holden, NEW YORK TIMES

"It's the music doc as film noir, with a vampirish city-of-night gleam that suits the subject and his darkly romantic sound."-Jim Ridley, THE VILLAGE VOICE

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Imagine the Sound

Sponsored by La Spiga, Easy Street Records and kbcs 91.3fm ,

Co-presented by Northwest Film Forum and the Earshot Jazz Festival

Oct 23 - Oct 25, 2007

Ron Mann, Canada, 1981, BETA-SP, 90 minutes

The award winning first film from Canadian documentary filmmaker Ron Mann, IMAGINE THE SOUND stands as one of the best documents of free-jazz ever made. More than 25 years ago, Mann teamed up with musician and Coda Magazine editor Bill Smith to profile four artists who were influential in the evolution of jazz into a free-form musical art beginning in the early '60s. The film catches pioneering pianists Cecil Taylor and Paul Bley, tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, and trumpet player Bill Dixon in dynamic performances and fascinating interviews shedding light on their approaches to music and life and the history of this unique musical genre. An eloquent tribute to unparalleled jazz innovators, IMAGINE THE SOUND has been called "The Last Waltz of jazz films."Long unavailable, we're pleased to present a special engagement of a new digital restoration this rarely seen jazz document.

Click here to visit the website

"Essential viewing and listening for free-jazz devotees."–Jonathan Rosenbaum, CHICAGO READER

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