BRATTLEBORO-The Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) and the Latchis Theatre are teaming up to present the world premiere of Soul and Science: The Music of Kenny Werner, a film by Newfane filmmaker Robert Fritz, on Saturday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m.
This documentary examines what event organizers called in a news release "the genius and artistry of legendary" jazz pianist and composer, Kenny Werner. Through interviews and filmed performance sequences, the work is an exploration of the 50-year career of a musician whose artistry Quincy Jones is often cited as calling "perfection" and "360 degrees of soul and science in one human being. My kind of musician."
Werner came on the scene in the early 1980s in NYC, serving for 10 years as the pianist and sometime composer-arranger for the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (now the Village Vanguard Orchestra). AllMusic.com credits Werner with 40 albums as a leader and co-leader and hundreds of entries as a sideman, composer, or arranger.
He has recorded and played with a who's who of jazz. A small sampling includes Marian McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, and Toots Thielemans.
Werner has been commissioned by the Cologne Radio Jazz Orchestra of broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne, Germany; the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra; The Metropole Orchestra in Holland; and the Umo Jazz Orchestra of Finland. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
"Kenny is what is sometimes called 'a musician's musician.' Most people in the music world know him, or know of him, and have been influenced by his music and teachings. There were no significant films about Kenny, and this was part of my motivation to create this documentary," said Fritz, a composer, filmmaker, writer, and organizational consultant based in Newfane.
Fritz's films have won numerous awards and citations at festivals around the world.
Soul and Science features interviews with many well-known jazz musicians.
"I structured the film in distinct chapters, with full performances of the Kenny Werner Trio, with Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley, and with jazz legend Toots Thielemans," said Fritz. "Together, the guests who appear in the film have won over 25 Grammy Awards. These are some of the most renowned artists in the music world who were excited to talk about the impact that Kenny has had on their art."
Fritz continued to say the film "is a great story and an unique exploration into the creative process."
Werner shares a connection with the VJC. In April 2019, he was featured in the Center's third annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival. Werner performed an hour-long solo jazz piano concert and presented a workshop on his concept of "Effortless Mastery," based on his book of the same name.
The May 24 world premiere will include a post-screening discussion with Werner and Fritz, moderated by VJC Director Eugene Uman.
Admission to the world premiere is by suggested donation of $15, with proceeds shared by the VJC and the Latchis. For more information, visit latchis.com.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.