All That Jazz

A celebration of the best of jazz on film, both fiction and documentary, and supported by two outstanding live jazz trios.

An Evening with Spike Wells and the QOW Trio

Film and Live Jazz at the Guildhall, Priory Park, Chichester

Booking Ref

Thu 19 Aug 20:00-22:30 (Guildhall)

Gig at 20:00: Film at 21:15 Tickets £15.00

Spike Wells and the QOW Trio

A couple of years ago, I was looking for a new musical adventure and found this in the form of “QOW” (so named after a tune composed by Dewey Redman). Instead of the usual piano trio, this group is formed of tenor saxophone, bass and drums. The saxophonist is the brilliant young virtuoso Riley Stone-Lonergan and the bassist is my old friend Eddie Myer. We play in a deliberately wide range of styles, ranging from the swing era, through bebop to the avant-garde, slipping in the odd calypso, standard and ballad on the way! Our first CD was recently released on the Ubuntu label to great critical acclaim, and we hope that the cinema audience will really love our music.

A Love Supreme

The story of a creatively driven and spiritually motivated man, this film traces the unique career of Spike Wells, renowned jazz drummer, aka Fr. Michael Wells. Anglican Spike achieved early success on the drums during the 1960s and 70s with the Tubby Hayes Quartet. He also toured with Stan Getz, Roland Kirk and Ronnie Scott and did stints as house drummer at Ronnie’s club. After too many late nights and miles on the motorway, he opted for a secure day job by qualifying as a lawyer, but music didn’t take a back seat for long. He was soon back, joining the bands of Peter King and Bobby Wellins. Then another twist. In his mid-40s, a religious conversion led swiftly to the priesthood. After this, he happily combined parish work with his beloved jazz gigs. And still does. The film was first released in 2000 featuring interviews with the drummer, his family, Bobby Wellins and others. This 2020 edit has been updated and extended with additional interviews from Simon Spillett, Art Themen and Wells reflecting on his life to date. UK 2000/20 Gary Barber 60m

An Evening of Billie Holiday

Vimala Rowe/John Etheridge/Andrew Cleyndert play Billie Holiday – Film and Live Jazz

Booking Ref

Mon 23 Aug 19:30-22:45 (Auditorium)

Film at 19:30; Gig at 21:30 Tickets £17.50

Billie

Billie Holiday’s remarkable career was cut short in 1959 aged 44 with 77 cents in her bank account. In 1971, journalist Linda Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. The book was never finished, and the 200 hours of extraordinary interviews remained unheard until now. Interviews with friends and family, insight from Tony Bennett and even an arresting officer from one of her notorious drug busts, provide unprecedented appraisal of the legendary jazz singer. Testimony from a chuckling pimp who pressed her into prostitution at the age of 16 is particularly troubling. Other interviewees include musicians Charles Mingus and Count Basie, as well as actress Sylvia Syms. “What was essential to me was to make sure there was enough room in the film to sit back and admire her power, her genius, and also to ensure the audience grasped that Billie’s story was told through the songs she sang,” Director – James Erskine. Holiday died of cirrhosis having been arrested in her hospital bed just a month earlier. A fascinating documentary about a troubled genius. USA 2019 James Erskine 95m

Proceeded by

Vimala Rowe, John Etheridge and Andrew Cleyndert play Billie Holiday

To accompany the film ‘Billie’ is a very special tribute to Billie Holiday led by the sensational vocalist Vimala Rowe together with John Etheridge guitar and Andrew Cleyndert (bass). Vimala’s performances are never less than expressive, engaging and sensational. She has already performed at the Film Festival in a tribute to Annie Ross illustrating her infectious natural feel for the music. This tribute gives Vimala the opportunity to express her respect for one of the 20th century’s most important musical icons and to bring a unique insight into Billie Holiday’s music. Vimala’s ‘kinship’ with this particular artist has already found critical acclaim through the Café Society show at the theatre Royal Stratford.

NB. The bar will be open during the 30-minute interval at 21:00 approx. between the film and live gig, and afterwards.

Booking Ref

Fri 27 Aug 21:00 (Auditorium)

Summer of Soul

Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, ‘Summer of Soul’ captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present. US 2021 Questlove 117m

See Black Directors Matter for full details on pg60.

Tue 24 Aug 20.45

Django

UK Premiere The story of Django Reinhardt, famous guitarist and composer, and his flight from German-occupied Paris in 1943.

See European Cinema for full details on pg15.

Fri 20 Aug 17:30 (+Jazz Guitar Duo) Sat 21 Aug 21:00

Jazz on a Summer’s Day

As quietly vital a political document as it is a gloriously entertaining sprint through that long weekend. The best live jazz concert ever made. This documentary concert film captures the sounds and performances of some of the major jazz artists at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Unlike earlier jazz movies that had been filmed in smoky black and white, this is shot in vibrant color. While musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Anita O’Day and Mahalia Jackson perform, images of beaches, sailboats on water, dancing couples and the faces of joyful audience members are intercut into the proceedings. The film has been beautifully and extensively restored in 4K. USA 1958 Bert Stern 85m

Round Midnight

A troubled, but talented musician (Dexter Gordon) flees the US to escape his problems, finding refuge and support in Paris. Possibly the greatest film ever made about American Jazz – and created by a European!

See Bernard Tavernier Tribute for full details on pg79.

Tue 17 Aug 20:45

Lovers Rock

Steve McQueen’s ‘Lovers Rock’ (from ‘Small Axe’) tells a fictional story of young love at a Blues party in 1980.

See full details of ‘Small Axe’ on pg60.

Mon 16 Aug 21:00