Klarinet Archive - Posting 001221.txt from 2003/03

From: "James O'Briant" <jobriant@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Benny Goodman Story (movies about jazz musicians)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 10:00:23 -0500

Some of you have given the titles of motion pictures about musicians.
One that nobody has yet mentioned it "Bix: The Story of a Legend," an
Italian production (in English) that was filmed in large part in Box
Beiderbecke's home town of Davenport, Iowa, in 1991. For example, all
of the scenes that take place in the Beiderbecke home were filmed in the
actual house where they occurred -- the Beiderbecke home on Grand Avenue
in Davenport.

The film is also unusual in the authenticity of the instruments and the
playing in the film. First, the sound track was recorded in Italy by
professional musicians. Then, the film crew borrowed or rented period
instruments from several local area collectors. When it came time to
film scenes of "The Wolverines," the Paul Whiteman Band, and the like,
the filmmakers hired local musicians to play the musicians. Then,
during the filming, they played back the pre-recorded sound track, and
the local musicians played along with it, off the same charts, and using
the period instruments. Thus, in the film, all the instruments,
fingerings, embouchures, etc. are authentic.

The film is a fairly accurate biography of Bix's life as well. I know
that it was released on VHS shortly after it was made, but I don't know
whether it's out on DVD or not.

Jim O'Briant
Bayside Music Press
Gilroy, CA 95020

www.baysidemusicpress.com

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