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Barry Avrich’s new documentary about late Montreal jazz legend Oscar Peterson harkens again to the period of black and white tv however seeks to situate the legacy of the good Canadian pianist firmly within the current.
“There isn’t any needle within the arm, there is no big bouts of alcoholism. This was simply a unprecedented musician who, as he says to start with of the movie: ‘I got here to play,'” mentioned the filmmaker.
“There generally is a nice story about an artist with out the drama,” mentioned Avrich.
Avrich describes Oscar Peterson: Black + White as a “docu-concert”. It blends archival footage and former performances with dwell recordings of modern musicians deciphering Peterson’s work, which Avrich shot in February.
He says the movie got here collectively at breakneck pace, the identical manner Peterson’s fingers moved throughout the keys of a piano.
“I made this documentary in virtually seven months,” Avrich mentioned. “And his music tempo and the way in which he performed virtually dictated the tempo of how shortly I appeared to maneuver in making the movie.”
WATCH | The trailer for Oscar Peterson: Black + White
The producer, director and filmmaker says whereas pandemic restrictions offered some challenges, additionally they freed up some greater names for function interviews.
“I used to be fortunate that in COVID these stars weren’t touring but,” mentioned Avrich.
“Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis and Jon Batiste … Billy Joel, we reached out to [him on a Friday] and he mentioned, ‘Positive! How about Tuesday?”
Avrich lives in Toronto however was born and raised in Montreal. He says he fell in love with Peterson’s music whereas sifting by way of his mother and father’ document assortment as a toddler.
“I type of found these albums within the basement, on this teak cupboard that my mother and father had,” he mentioned.
“My pals had been listening to Boston, Styx, Dire Straits and Supertramp … I cherished that, too, however jazz was a distinct journey.”
LISTEN | Barry Avrich on his new documentary about Oscar Peterson
Let’s Go9:31Montrealer makes documentary about Oscar Peterson
There’s a new documentary popping out Friday about Montreal Jazz musician Oscar Peterson… We’ll communicate to the filmmaker behind it. 9:31
One other vital ingredient of Avrich’s movie is the historical past of racial injustice and the affect segregation in the USA had on Peterson as a Black man travelling to carry out south of the border.
When the documentary premiered on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition (TIFF) earlier this month, Canadian gospel and blues singer Jackie Richardson was available to sing Hymn to Freedom, Peterson’s ode to the civil rights’ motion of the 1960’s.
“[Hymn to Freedom] was Oscar’s composition about experiencing racial prejudice and discrimination touring in the USA,” mentioned Avrich, “and I needed that music within the movie to indicate that issues actually have not modified.”
In the end although, Avrich says the documentary is an expression of affection.
“It is a love letter to Oscar, a love letter to my mother and a love letter to Montreal,” he mentioned.
“You may see a lot of Montreal to start with of this movie… as Oscar kind of evolves earlier than he leaves Montreal, and that, to me, is my roots.”
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