'On the Outside', Jazz North East's adventurous programming strand, offered the opportunity to see the rarely screened documentary film 'Femmes du Jazz'.
Not entirely surprisingly, the audience comprised mainly women (a ratio of 3 to 1, women to men).
Director Gilles Corre shot the film in New York and Barcelona in 1999. The Big Apple's female jazz musicians were the stars of Corre's work.
The women spoke for themselves and were seen and heard to great effect in the studio, in the practice room and on the bandstand. Illustrious venues such as Birdland and Sweet Basil played host to the likes of Susie Ibarra, Jane Ira Bloom, Akua Dixon, Myra Melford, Marilyn Crispell, Ingrid Jensen and Maria Schneider.
The musicianship was second to none and their sidemen (yes, 'sidemen') included bassists Charnett Moffett and Rufus Reid, pianist Cooper Moore and drummer Victor Lewis (the women were quite complimentary about them!).
The New York skyline featured in an evocative montage; Times Square, the Hudson River, the yellow cab, the basketball hoop - you get the picture.
Down Beat's Annual Critics' Poll places some of the featured musicians at the top of the jazz tree (Maria Schneider is second to none as arranger and leader of a big band).
Later this week there is a chance to hear pianist Marilyn Crispell at Gateshead Old Town Hall. Crispell was last on Tyneside some twenty five years ago with Anthony Braxton. So, Gateshead next Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the place to be for the annual festival feast that is 'On the Outside'.
Russell
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