Monday, March 14, 2016
THE MUSIC KEPT THEM ALIVE...AND KILLED THEM!
The Music Kept Them Alive…And
Killed Them!
THEY DIED BEFORE 40 - a new
jazz film to make history
Which
jazz musician’s funeral attracted 10,000 mourners and an 80-car funeral
procession? (See photo attached)
Which
African American musician was forced to play at the other end of the recording
studio with white musicians? (See photo attached)
More than two dozen gifted jazz artists died before
reaching the age of 40. Most of them are relatively unknown, some even to jazz
fans. Many of them made significant contributions to this art form. All of them
had much more to give and, individually and collectively, would have made a
greater impact on this music had they lived full lives. It is important that
their contributions be made known, their music heard and that we show how and
why they died.
Many people
may have heard of Bix Beiderbecke (who died at 28) and Charlie Parker (who died
at 34). But others, such as Herschel Evans, who died before reaching 30, are
very little known and their stories untold. For example, Jo Jones, drummer and
an integral part of the Count Basie band for many years, has called Evans the
greatest musician he ever played with. He said that Evans made everyone he
played with better.
Who was this
giant, what made him an important creative artist, how and why did he die so
young? These are questions that this film will answer concerning Evans and many
more. In addition to Evans also featured will be Bunny Berigan, Chick Webb,
Fats Waller, Charlie Christian, Jimmy Blanton, Clifford Brown and Chu Berry.
About two dozen others’ ages and causes of death are included.
Through their
music, some archival film footage, photographs, reminiscences and expert
discourse we learn more about these artists, develop an appreciation of their
artistry and reveal how and why their careers were cut short.
The film will
expand our cultural heritage for this internationally renowned art form and
also help us to understand the unique lifestyle that these artists led.
A “rough cut” of 93 minutes has been produced. However, a Kickstarter
campaign has just launched- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jazzfilm/they-died-before-40-new-jazz-film-to-make-history
to raise the necessary funds to pay for music and some photograph licenses and
to produce the “final cut.”
Contact:
Howard E. Fischer - Producer, Director,
Writer
212-864-1479
