Willie Ruff, musician, composer, educator, filmmaker, and Yale School of Music alumnus was on the faculty of the Yale School of Music from 1971 until his retirement in 2017. He directed and produced this short film which follows Dizzy Gillespie and Ruff’s musical partner Dwike Mitchell on a tour of key locations in the history of bebop in New York City. Gillespie led the filmmakers to Minton’s Playhouse, Carnegie Hall, the former site of the Savoy Ballroom, and made an unannounced stop at Miles’ Davis home. (Yale Film Archive)
Young John Anderson is captivated by jazz musician Billy Cross when he performs on the remote airstrip of his Western Australian outback hometown after his plane is diverted. Years later, now a family man and making a meagre living tracking dingoes and playing trumpet in a local band, John still dreams of joining Billy on trumpet and makes a pilgrimage to Paris.
Filmed at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal on June 28th, 1985. Tracklist: 1. One Phone Call, 2. Human Nature, 3. Somethings On Your Mind, 4. Time After Time, 5. Code M. D., 6. Jean Pierre
In August 1970, 600,000 fans flocked to the Isle of Wight to witness the third and final festival to be held on the island. Besides the music, they also got a look at the greed, cynicism and corruption that would plague the music industry for years to come. They also witnessed the final, drugged out performance of Jimi Hendrix in England just two weeks before he would meet a tragic death. When it all was over, the fans view of rock and roll was never the same.
A short documentary about the musician Prince. Features interviews with Eric Clapton, George Clinton, Terence Trent D'arby, Quincy Jones, Little Richard, Randy Newman and Miles Davis.
Containing a vibrant concert by the Miles Davis Band featuring Keith Jarrett.
Recorded during the 10th ParisJazz Festival, 3rd November 1989 in Zenith. Miles Davis trumpet / Benjamin Rietveld bass / Joseph Foley McCreary lead bass / Ricky Wellman drums / John Bigham electric percussion / Kenny Garrett saxophone & flute / Kei Akagi keyboards
Miles Davis Band, "La Grande Halle De La Villette", Paris, France, July 10, 1991 , Miles Davis (tp) Bill Evans (ss) Kenny Garrett, Jackie McLean (as) Steve Grossman (ts) Chick Corea (el-p) Deron Johnson (syn) John McLaughlin, John Scofield (el-g) Joe "Foley" McCreary (lead b) Dave Holland (b) Darryl Jones, Richard Patterson (el-b) Al Foster, Ricky Wellman (d)
A film collage tracing the story of the lives, loves, and deaths within the artistic community surrounding Jonas Mekas.
How can something in the public domain not be publicly available? A critical investigation of public domain—a legal term that has nothing to do with free access or public availability—that uses powerhouse commercial archive Getty Images as its example. If the world's visual history remains locked behind a paywall, who will ever see it?
This concert from July 8th, 1991 was the last of Miles Davis many appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival and took place only a few months before his death. Despite a defiant never look back philosophy, Miles was persuaded by Quincy Jones and Claude Nobs to take part in this tribute to his great friend Gil Evans, who had passed away in 1988. This truly unique concert was an historical event and a musical triumph, thankfully captured here for posterity. Miles Davis was a giant of 20th century music and this concert is as much a tribute to him as it is to the late Gil Evans.
An exemplary television program performance (New York, 1959) with the legendary Miles Davis Quintet featuring John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb and enhanced by the Gil Evans Orchestra.
Kind Of Blue: Celebrating A Masterpiece incorporates material from the 2004 mini-documentary, Made In Heaven, including black-and-white still photography of the recording sessions and the voices of Miles (at the sessions), as well as excerpts of radio interviews with the late Bill Evans.
Miles playing with sextet and Evans orchestra. A TV program hosted by Robert Herridge, The Robert Herridge Theater from Studio 61, and recorded in New York in 1959. With the legendary Miles Davis Quintet featuring John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb and enhanced by the Gil Evans Orchestra.
LIVE IN EUROPE 1969 lives up to the Miles Davis Bootleg Series mission of presenting live performances that are previously unreleased, have previously only been bootlegged, or are very rare. This new set is the first collection of Miles's Third Great Quintet, the "Lost" Band of 1968-1970 with Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette at their peak (they were never recorded in the studio). The album captures the short-lived quintet in three separate concert settings, starting with two full-length (one hour-plus) sets at the Antibes Jazz Festival in France, in Stockholm as part of "The Newport Jazz Festival In Europe," and completed with a stunning 46-minute performance at the Berlin Philharmonie, filmed in color. Recorded 11/7/69 at Berliner Jazztage in the Berlin Philharmonie 1. Introduction by John O Brien-Docker 2. Directions 3. Bitches Brew 4. It s About That Time 5. I Fall In Love Too Easily 6. Sanctuary 7. The Theme
This famous bootleg DVD was finally released as part of LIVE in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 in 2011. Miles Davis second great quintet: Bass – Ron Carter Drums – Tony Williams Piano – Herbie Hancock Saxophone [Tenor] – Wayne Shorter Trumpet – Miles Davis Tracklist: 1. Agitation (Composed By – Miles Davis) 2. Footprints (Composed By – Wayne Shorter) 3. Around Midnight (Composed By – Thelonious Monk) 4. Gingerbread Boy / Into The Theme (Composed By – Jimmy Heath, Miles Davis) 5. I Fall In Love Too Easily (Composed By – Jule Styne, Lyrics By – Sammy Cahn) [1-4] Recorded Live At Konserthuset, Stockholm. Sweden On October 31, 1967 [5] Stadthalle, Karlsruhe, Germany On November 7, 1967
Documentary about Miles Davis' legendary gig at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. Includes full live footage and recent interviews with band mates and others.
Documentary Chronicling the making of Artists United Against Apartheid “Sun City”
Documentary exploring the meaning and history of cool through the American music that started in the 1940s in the bars of New York and LA, and became known as cool jazz.
This concert from the Jazz legend was recorded in 1973 with a very similar line-up to the later releases Dark Magus, Agharta, and Pangaea, featuring Al Foster on drums, Michael Henderson on bass, Mtume on percussion, Dave Liebman on sax, and, most importantly, Reggie Lucas and Pete Cosey on guitar. It contains some material from the previously listed albums, and plenty that is not, at least in any recognizable form. Jazz VIP. 2009.
Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing a staff member on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past.
Never-before-heard personal recordings and archival footage tell the story of Louis Armstrong's life from his perspective. From musical phenom to civil rights activist to world-renowned artist, this illuminating film shows sides of Armstrong few have seen.
Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They All Came Out to Montreux is an affectionate story about how Claude Nobs turned his Swiss town into the home for one of the world’s biggest jazz festivals.
In JINGLE BELL ROCKS!, director Mitchell Kezin delves into the minds of some of the world’s most legendary Christmas music fanatics and hits the road to hang with his holiday heroes – including hip hop legend Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of RUN-D.M.C., The Flaming Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne, filmmaker John Waters, bebopper Bob Dorough, L.A. DJ and musicologist Dr. Demento, and Calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow. In his search for the twelve best, underappreciated Christmas songs ever recorded, Kezin both asks and answers the question, “Why, when Christmas rolls around, are we still stuck cozying up with Bing Crosby under a blanket of snow?”
From the mid-fifties to his death in the early nineties, Miles Davis was universally recognized as one of the most innovative musicians working in Jazz. He was also one of the most popular with his albums regularly breaking into the pop charts and he picked up a total of eight Grammy Awards. He also launched the careers of many jazz musicians including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin and many more. This concert, filmed in Munich in 1987, followed the release of his Grammy Award winning album Tutu and the set list features two tracks from that record, the title track and Portia , plus his unique arrangements of Michael Jackson's Human Nature and Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time.
Hôtel La Louisiane is, at its core, a film about freedom and dignity. Freedom for those who wish to live in a place where they are able to feel inspired. Dignity for the hotel owner to stand by his promise to his father and keep their mission alive: to provide an affordable sanctuary for artists and students in search of fulfilling employment, which they certainly won’t find at other hotels. Freedom, too, to be in an environment of tolerance and rid of prejudice. This film is not just a story about a mythical setting in Paris; it portrays the microcosm of a lifestyle in which collective values reign supreme. A film where what’s real and true is placed above national borders or cultural barriers.
The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented composers, musicians and music producers -- provides the basis of this offbeat, free-form documentary tribute. With little regard for formal timelines and traditional documentary biography methods, the film is an amazing patchwork of personal insights featuring a constellation of music stars including his long-time friend Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie and rappers Big Daddy Kane and Flavor Flav, as well as politicians, filmmakers and other important people. Some of the most moving scenes involve Jones returning to his childhood home in Chicago and recounting honest and painful memories from his childhood. Jones does not shy from discussing everything -- from his mother's mental illness, to his marital problems, to his serious health conditions. He also looks frankly at his career.
An immersive look at the eventful life and brilliant artistic career of visionary American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991).
A documentary on the music of Miles Davis which contains concert footage from the 1986 New Orleans Jazz Festival and interviews with Miles Davis, Bill Cosby, Keith Jarrett, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, George Benson, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams and Robben Lee Ford. Music includes "Human Nature", "Al Jarreau, "Blues for Pablo", "Human Nature", "So What" and "Time After Time."
On October 9, 1972, the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse hosted an exhibition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s work, designed by Fluxus artist George Maciunas. That same day, friends including Ringo Starr, Allen Ginsberg, and Paul Krassner gathered to celebrate Lennon’s birthday. Jonas Mekas’s film records the event in both image and sound, capturing the spirit of the moment and the community around Lennon and Ono.
An account of the life of the brilliant jazz musician John Coltrane (1926-67), a gifted saxophonist, an extraordinarily talented thinker whose original, avant-garde work has impacted and influenced people all over the world. A story about music's ability to entertain, inspire and transform.
Miles Davis performing live at Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood Massachusetts on August 18, 1970. Miles Davis tp / Chick Corea el-p / Keith Jarrett org / Gary Bartz ss, as / Dave Holland el-b / Jack DeJohnette dr / Airto Moreira perc 1. Directions 2. Bitches Brew 3. The Mask 4. It's About That Time 5. Sanctuary 6. Spanish Key 7. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
Miles Davis performing live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden 27 October 1973 1. Band warming up 2. Untitled Original 730424c 3. Calypso Frelimo 4. For Dave (Mr. Foster) 5. Tune in 5 ------ Miles Davis (tpt, org) / Dave Liebman (ss, ts, fl) / Pete Cosey (g, perc) / Reggie Lucas (g) / Michael Henderson (el-b) / Al Foster (d) / James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)
Explore the vision behind the iconic American jazz record label. Since 1939, Blue Note artists have been encouraged to push creative boundaries in search of uncompromising expressions. Through current recording sessions, rare archive and conversations with iconic Blue Note artists, the film reveals an intimate perspective of a legacy that continues to be vital in today’s political climate.
In 1966 a landmark suite of orchestral jazz entitled “The Universe Compositions" was written for Miles Davis and set to be recorded by The Miles Davis Quintet. That moment would never happen. The quintet broke up and the compositions were lost for 50 years...until they were finally recovered by Miles’ only protégé, Wallace Roney--the one man Miles would trust to fulfill his wish. As Wallace prepares to record and debut "Universe," he must find a way to uphold his mentor's legacy. The work would take on an added poignancy when Wallace unexpectedly passes in March 2020 before seeing the music's release out in the world.
Previously unissued Live Concert Performance by Miles' Quintet lineup with Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette – experience the evolution of Miles' sound, and further development of tracks from Bitches Brew and earlier material in the hands of master improvisers. --itunes
One of the true legends of the jazz scene, Miles Davis was not only a virtuoso on the trumpet, but also one of the founders of cool Jazz, Groove, Hard Bop, and Fusion. Available for the first time completely digitally re-recorded is Davis' live performance in Montreal with rare concert footage. This is a must-have for all jazz lovers.
Miles Davis Quintet October 11, 1964 Teatro dell' Arte, Milan (Italy) 1. Autumn Leaves 2. My Funny Valentine 3. All Blues 4. All of You 5. Joshua / Miles Davis (trumpet) / Wayne Shorter (sax) / Herbie Hancock (piano) / Ron Carter (bass) / Tony Williams (drums)
Miles Davis Quintet November 3, 1969 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris France. Set 1: Directions Bitches Brew Paraphernalia Riot I Fall In Love Too Easily Sanctuary Miles Runs The Voodoo Down The Theme Set 2: Bitches Brew Agitation I Fall In Love Too Easily Sanctuary Masqualero It's About That Time
Miles Davis live at The Isle Of Wight Festival , August 29, 1970. Tracks include Bitches Brew, It's About That Time, Sanctuary, Spanish Keys, and The Theme. Featuring Miles on Trumpet, Gary Bartz on saxophone, Chick Corea on electric piano, Keith Jarrett on electronic organ Dave Holland on electric bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Airto Moreira on percussion. Footage shot by documentary director Murray Lerner.
Filmed just a few years before passing away but no less of a typical live Miles Davis live show. This show was filmed at the Munich Philharmonic Concert Hall during the Munchner Klaviersommer 1988.
An account of the life of actress Jeanne Moreau (1928-2017), a true icon of the New Wave and one of the most idolized French movie stars.
Prince’s final performance of the Sign O’ The Times Tour stage show and his only on-stage collaboration with jazz legend Miles Davis.
A documentary film about John Coltrane.
Miles Davis – Montreux Jazz Festival (1989) captures the legendary trumpeter's electric-era performance at the Casino de Montreux on July 21, 1989, as part of the annual Montreux Jazz Festival. The set brought together a tight band featuring Rick Margitza (tenor sax), Kei Akagi (keyboards), Adam Holzman (keyboards), Joe "Foley" McCreary and Benny Rietveld (basses), Ricky Wellman (drums), and Monyungo Jackson (percussion), with a guest appearance by Chaka Khan on "Human Nature". Nestled in the electric fusion phase of his career, the performance weaves together introspective originals like "Intruder," "New Blues," "Perfect Way," "Hannibal," and "Tutu," with emotive reinterpretations of pop repertoire.
Miles Davis – Newport Festival in Paris (1973) showcases the trumpeter during his electric period, recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival's European date on July 11, 1973, at the Palais des Sports in Paris. This performance captures Davis leading his adventurous septet—blending jazz, funk, and fusion—on a continent-spanning tour organized by impresario George Wein . The set unfolds as a continuous, immersive journey, marked by shifting textures and exploratory grooves that reflect Davis's bold sonic direction in the early ’70s.
During this period, Davis toured Europe with the quintet of Shorter, Corea, Holland and DeJohnette. The group’s repertoire included material from Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way, the 1960s quintet albums, and an occasional standard. This DVD comprises two of those memorable concerts, one in Copenhagen and the other in Rome.
An instant classic when released in September 1971, John Lennon's Imagine was the ex-Beatle's solo masterpiece, and its musical legacy is matched here by priceless footage of Lennon's creative process, independently edited from original 16-millimeter footage by producer-director Andrew Solt with the hands-off approval of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. Incorporating footage from John and Yoko's original film Imagine (clips of which were previously included in the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon), Gimme Some Truth presents Lennon, Ono, coproducer Phil Spector, and a host of gifted musicians in a fluid context of conflict, community, and craftsmanship. Bearing witness to every stage of the recording process, this 63-minute documentary succeeds as a visual diary, a study of familiar music in its infancy, and a revealing portrait of the then-30-year-old Lennon--from witty clown to confrontational perfectionist--at the peak of his post-Fab Four inspiration.
Recorded during the 10th Paris Jazz Festival - 3rd November, 1989 at Le Zenith, Paris, France, with Kenny Garrett, Kei Akagi, Joe "Foley" McCreary, Benny Rietveld, Ricky Wellman, and John Bigham. Also includes interviews with Miles.
July 13, 1985 North Sea Jazz Festival, Tuinpaviljoen, Congresgebouw, Den Haag, The Netherlands
Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years.
A sample of Miles Davis performances from the Montreux Jazz Festival.
