A brand new silent film, with live music written by Wynton Marsalis, receives its European premiere at the London Jazz Festival – “a one-in-a-lifetime not-be-missed event (Jazz Times). The streets of New Orleans provide an evocative backdrop as a young Louis Armstrong navigates the colourful intricacies of life in the quintessential jazz city.Marsalis’s score is played by a hand-picked ensemble of some of the composers closest associates, directed by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, including saxophonist Wes Anderson, and drummer Herlin Riley, contributing a spirited counterpoint to director Dan Pritzker’s stunning Chaplin-inspired movie.
'You want to make a silent film – about jazz?'
Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and its live score opened Dan Pritzker's eyes to the possibilities of silent movies. But was choosing Louis Armstrong as his subject a step too far?
Dan Pritzker / guardian.co.uk
Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and its live score opened Dan Pritzker's eyes to the possibilities of silent movies. But was choosing Louis Armstrong as his subject a step too far?
Dan Pritzker / guardian.co.uk
