Music Craft: Jazz Films at Northwest Film Forum

The Incredible Jimmy Smith
credit: vervemusicgroup

Music Craft is a series of jazz documentaries and concert films presented by Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, and sponsored by 88.5 KPLU.

Saturday December 15, 7pm:  Jimmy Smith

This documentary from 1965 made for German TV follows B-3 organ master Jimmy Smith and his trio on tour:  Berlin, Helsinki, London, and points between.  A snapshot of life on the road and on the stage, the film’s highlights are the concert footage, and the scenes of  interaction backstage with Dizzy Gillespie and his band.  It’s also a time-capsule view of the world in 1965, with Jimmy and Dizzy’s bassist Chris White commenting on civil rights and racism, the Beatles, and the “new attitudes” of young people.

Saturday January 19, 8pm:  Sarah Vaughan

From a performance on German TV in 1969, Sarah Vaughan mesmerizes with her incredible vocal range and expression.  She lives up to both of her enduring nicknames–Sassy, for the way she teases and plays with melodies and lyrics; and The Divine One, for the pure angelic tones she produces.

Saturday February 16, 8pm:  Keith Jarrett and Jan Garbarek

Keith Jarrett’s European quartet set the standard for exploratory acoustic jazz in the 1970s.  In this 1974 Jazz Workshop session for Germany’s NDR public broadcasting service, the interplay between Jarrett and Garbarek is nothing less than magical.

More information on the series at Northwest Film Forum.