NEW THOMAS CHAPIN FILM
TO HAVE FIRST SHOWING, NYC
THIS SUNDAY, FREE
TO HAVE FIRST SHOWING, NYC
THIS SUNDAY, FREE
"inspiring"..."a masterpiece"..."a coup and tour de force"...
"a must see."
(New
York City ) — The new, acclaimed music film THOMAS CHAPIN, NIGHT BIRD
SONG screens for FREE to the public at SVA Theatre this Sunday, March 13
at 333 West 23 Street, NY, NY 10010.
Doors open at 1 p.m.; the film begins 1:30 p.m.
RSVPs required. Send to tcnightbirdsong@gmail.com
Destined
to be among the great virtuosos of jazz, Thomas Chapin, an alto sax and
flute master, was nearing the pinnacle of his meteoric rise when
leukemia took him at the age of 40 in 1998. Though fame and world
recognition have eluded him despite the mark he left on jazz in the '80s
and '90s, his passionate life and incandescent music remain
unforgettable to fans who knew him and musicians who played with him.
And today, his music is inspiring a new generation of artists and
musicians who have discovered him. The new documentary THOMAS CHAPIN,
NIGHT BIRD SONG draws an intimate portrait of this musical explorer who
pushed and transcended the boundaries of jazz and dissolved the
distinctions between sound and music. Because of this film, he will no
longer be only a footnote in jazz. His indelible mark will be
known Thomas Chapin left us too soon. The free SVA screening and other
pending screenings in NYC will be the stage for introducing Chapin to
many who never had the chance to know him or to hear him play. Chapin
was well known for being a bridge to both the uptown and the downtown
scenes. Pending screenings will include uptown jazz venues in Manhattan
and Queens where Chapin also lived and performed.
REVIEWS:
DownBeat’s Bill Milkowski: “I was glad to be in attendance for such an inspired work.”
Art Review by Patrick Brennan
LEAVE NOTHING OUT
"Wow. Journalist and filmmaker Stephanie Castillo has accomplished a combination coup and tour
de force with her documentary on the music and life of composer–saxophonist-flautist Thomas Chapin (1957-1998).” http://www.arteidolia.com/
NY CITY JAZZ RECORD
“What stands out about Night Bird Song is that filmmaker Stephanie J. Castillo not only captured the depth and breadth of Chapin’s music (in varied contexts) and his dedication to music in general (not just jazz) but a sense of the person himself within a historical context. There are many complete performances as opposed to highlights—it makes for a lengthy movie but it never feels overlong. For anyone with an interest in creative music in the ‘80s- 90s, Night Bird Song is essential viewing.”
Joe Bender review
http://www.jbspins.blogspot.
“...what is most striking about the film is its feeling of intimacy. Castillo really gets Chapin’s friends and family to open up while reminiscing about him. The vibe will most likely be further reinforced during the early Tri-State Area screenings, when the Chapin network comes out to support the film. Eighteen years after his death, Chapin’s music remains a rich and potent listening pleasure. However, it is the connections he forged that make Night Bird Song such an emotional film to watch. This is not your typical pretentious jazz hagiography. The feelings Castillo captures are real. Very highly recommended for fans of the Downtown scene and documentary patrons with open minds and open ears...”
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