Musician

2007
1h

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Common sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark's work ethic is almost mythic. T... Read allCommon sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark's work ethic is almost mythic. The Chicago reed player has released over 100 albums with nearly 40 ensembles, spends over ... Read allCommon sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark's work ethic is almost mythic. The Chicago reed player has released over 100 albums with nearly 40 ensembles, spends over eight months per year on the road, and lives every other waking moment composing, arrangin... Read all

Director
- Daniel Kraus
Star
- Ken Vandermark

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Daniel Kraus
Star
- Ken Vandermark

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Top cast1

Edit

Ken Vandermark

Self

User reviews1

6.913

Featured reviews

6earthinspace-1

95% ready for release... Probably will be very good with that other 5%

Great idea for a film and worth remaking -- even with most of the same footage. Inspired by Studs Terkel's book _Working_ ... the cover says. I read that book and greatly admired it almost 35 years ago. There's no rule against commentary... there sure was plenty in the book -- by the subjects themselves.

I wish someone would weave this film together more.

(A "fly on the wall" is not a point of view. Personally, I like to have a couple of houseflies in the room. I find them comforting and beautiful. But I don't wait for them to tell the story of musicians.)

The film makers may have believed narration or commentary would detract from the flow. And it's a huge chore to do it well -- narration for this film would be like the effort of producing a three or four excellent songs -- a huge effort!

The film was released in a hectic time in our country, which may have compressed the film makers' budgets or personal time. Good production values --- worthy on-screen subjects and sound -- just needs more of the excellent emcee work which the film makers surely can arrange.