Fire Music
Year: 2018
Country:
United States
Language:
English
Run Time:
68 minutes
There have been several great jazz documentaries throughout the years, but they’ve largely ignored the genre’s eccentric, avant-garde little brother, free jazz. This lack of representation bothered director Tom Surgal, who decided to devote an entire film to the unconventional style. The result is FIRE MUSIC, a fascinating film that will please both fans and critics alike, while also schooling those unfamiliar with the concept. So what is free jazz? Feeling that other styles of jazz were too limiting, some musicians in the 60s began deconstructing typical conventions, trying out irregular tempos, playing strange notes and chord progressions, and improvising to epic proportions. The goal was to use experimentation to defy traditions, making something completely unique and original. Surgal profiles several prominent artists in the scene, including Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler, and John Coltrane. Going against the grain wasn’t easy early on—friends of Coleman recall the night he was physically assaulted for his offbeat techniques. Eventually, though, artists across the jazz spectrum began incorporating avant-garde methods into their music. This well-researched documentary is an enjoyable tribute to those who think outside the box. —E.F.
CIFF43 Screenings
Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9:35 PM
Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Sidebars
African Diaspora
Race Relations
Competition
Music Movies Competition
Director
Tom Surgal
Writer and director Tom Surgal is known for directing a series of groundbreaking music videos for leading alternative bands such as Sonic Youth, Pavement and The Blues Explosion. A musician and co-leader of the improvisational ensemble, White Out, Surgal is recognized as a leading authority on Avant-Garde Jazz and boasts one the world's largest collections of Free Jazz recordings.
Filmography
FIRE MUSIC (2018)
Producers
Dan Braun, Tom Surgal
Cinematography
Jim Spring, Jens Jurgensen, Dan Ehrenbard, John Northrup
Editing
John Northrup
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