This film is a documentary composition of new jazz, New York as the city that generates it, and the musicians playing it. The thoughts of the saxophonist Charles Gayle and the bass players William Parker and Peter Kowald from Germany accompany the film. Shot on 16 mm, this film remains one of a kind until today. Some of the recorded musicians have passed away - their spirits live on.
Germany
USA
Germany
USA
Exactly what a music documentary should be...full of music. And to borrow the old ESP Disk back cover slogan, you've never heard such sounds in your life. The group captured near the end, featuring the saxophone section of Peter Brotzmann, David S. Ware, Frank Wright, Jameel Moondoc, and Charles Gayle is...well, fucking jaw dropping is what it is, even on a re-watch. Also, the sheer amount of insight into Gayle from before he'd had a recording released really adds to this film's already considerable value. Plus, William Parker, Peter Kowald, Don Cherry, and a short bit of footage of John Zorn and Wayne Horwitz near the beginning that, following a statement made by Kowald, comes off as sort of a diss.
If you’re into free jazz, avant-garde and the NYC scene of the 80s, you’ll probably enjoy this as I did. If that’s not your thing, it may be an eye opener for you or you’ll be scared off by the unearthly sounds squeezed out of a sax by these legends. Wish there was more Zorn, though.
definitely a fascinating document of this period in music history in new york and a testament to the connection between arts and poverty in the U.S.
there's a jazz opera in here that is absolutely nuts
My familiarity with these guys (and of course they are only guys), and improvisational free jazz, therefore, was mostly limited to Peter Kowald's collaboration with Diamanda Galas[1], when I was on something of a kick for challenging music.
So there was a lot of new information for me. The filmed meditations on artists (and the tribulations thereof) are (mostly) quite interesting, and I suspect Wayne Horvitz[2]' work on the inside of the piano inspired Bill Bailey's brilliant bit on Black Books.
Still - while I enjoyed watching the performances, I had to keep turning it down, as my wife was constantly looking for sources of "that noise". She's not very musical, mind, but that may give you an idea.
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Charles Gayle was really touching on some important issues in this documentary. It seems he really cares for music itself and he plays for the people hurting in this world. I know there were other artists in this doc but Charles Gayle really stood out to me. There were questions unanswered and he knew that some questions are without answers but he still asks them.
Beautiful doc about the avant-garde jazz scene in 1980’s New York. Love love love this film. Swept me off my feet and left me wanting more.
this movie features a live performance of a song called “Music for the Love of It” by a band called Billy Bang's Forbidden Planet and it’s some of the grooviest stuff I’ve ever heard but there’s no way to listen to it outside of this movie
Love hearing jazz musicians talk about jazz. Almost as much as I like to listen to them play jazz. More, sometimes, depending on the musician.
Lot of good talking and playing in this one.
Some great insight into race in jazz and what makes something “avant-garde.” Gayle and Kowald are phenomenal fonts of knowledge, especially talking to one another.
DOG?: yeah saw a little guy on the street.
seems all but certain that american avant gardism will never see another peak like the loft jazz era. and it feels like something of a miracle that FMP managed to archive this footage. the fact that gigs of this caliber were just happening all the time at one point in one place is unfathomable.
