Jazz Activist Ira Gitler Celebrated in New Documentary

Publicat in: 02.06.2019, 06:40AM
Autor: Richard Constantinidi
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Vizualizari: 902
Etichete: Bret Primack, Ira Gitler, Jazz Activist, Jazz Video Guy

Jazz lost the best friend it ever had when Ira Gitler passed away on February 23, 2019. Ira Gitler Lives! is a new thirty-minute documentary by filmmaker Bret Primack that showcases Gitler’s life in Jazz. For over six decades, Ira wrote books, liner notes, and articles, produced recording sessions and concerts, as well as working as a broadcaster and teacher. He was also a hockey enthusiast.

Ira Gitler’s story is told in his own words, from a 2009 video interview Primack produced, and more recent interviews with colleagues Todd Barkan, Randy Brecker, Michael Cuscuna, Jim Eigo, Terry Gibbs, Jeff Levenson, Howard Mandel, Dan Morgenstern and Loren Schoenberg.

As a witness and participant in the creation of Bebop, and Prestige Records, the film includes Ira discussing four classic sessions: “Zoot Swings The Blues,” when Zoot Sims’ tenor solo broke the time limit on recordings; “Soultrane,” where Ira coined the phrase “sheets of sound,” to describe John Coltrane’s playing in the liner notes; Sonny Rollins debut recording session and Ira’s maiden voyage as a producer; and, the historic Miles Davis recording session that included Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins.

“I first learned about Jazz and Ira reading his DownBeat articles and liner notes,” Primack explains. “When I starting writing myself I met Ira, who quickly became a mentor and inspiration. I made this film to reveal who Ira was, as a man, in addition to his work.”