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Jazz Legends' 100th Birthdays Celebrated on Film
31 May
Summary
- MFAH's Jazz on Film series honors John Coltrane and Miles Davis centennials.
- Series features 'Elevator to the Gallows' with Davis's improvised score.
- Docs explore influential jazz figures like Strayhorn, Williams, and Sun Ra.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's "Jazz on Film" series this year honors the 100th birthdays of legendary musicians John Coltrane and Miles Davis. The series, curated by Peter Lucas, cinematically salutes these influential jazz artists.
Kicking off and concluding the series is Louis Malle's 1958 film "Elevator to the Gallows," featuring an improvised score by Miles Davis. This selection highlights Davis's early European work and an unusual collaboration.
Additional screenings include shorts focusing on artists connected to Davis and Coltrane, such as Alice Coltrane and drummers Max Roach and Tony Williams. The program also shines a light on Duke Ellington's collaborators, Billy Strayhorn and Mary Lou Williams.
"Sun Ra: Do the Impossible" offers a look at the avant-garde innovator influenced by Ellington. These selections aim to present a complex tapestry of jazz history, moving beyond mere symbolism to reveal the lives and struggles of its artists.
