by Neil Mattson | Nov 10, 2021 |
Call + Response: A unique collaboration between Portland’s jazz and filmmaker communities to facilitate short works of art-music-film, Call + Response is a visibility-raising project created by Montavilla Jazz to foster unique, cross-genre creative processes and build audiences. In its debut season, musicians Micah Hummel, Noah Simpson, and Idit Shner, each composed, performed, and recorded seven to ten minutes of original music. Filmmakers Jeff Oliver, Shilpa Sunthankar, and Deejuliano Scott responded with visual “scores,” created through access to production facilities and the Independent Filmmaker Kit provided by project partner Open Signal. Learn more about Call + Response at montavillajazz.org/call-response/.
“The results are quirky and personal, ranging from a Sasquatch-hunting tale to a surreal Muppet-oriented horror story to a celebration of traditional dance styles in a Central Oregon desert… a funky, unique creation, exactly the sort of thing to expect from the always forward-thinking festival.” — Jazz Scene Magazine
WHAT: Montavilla Jazz Presents Call + Response theater premiere with moderated artist panel and audience Q&A; film shorts:
- Beast of Torpor with music by Micah Hummel + film by Jeff Oliver
- A Day in Color with music by Noah Simpson + film by Shilpa Sunthankar
- Last Signs of June with music by Idit Shner + film by Deejuliano Scott
WHEN: Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 6:30PM
WHERE: Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
by Neil Mattson | May 14, 2021 |
Montavilla Jazz and the Blue Cranes were thinking in parallel with their respective pandemic pivots, turning to the local filmmaking community to forge a path through the shutdowns of 2020. Montavilla Jazz paired jazz composers with filmmakers resulting in the three short films within Call + Response, while the Blue Cranes produced music-films to accompany their upcoming release, VOICES, which has been years in the making.
Teaming up with Fernanda D’Agostino of Mobile Projection Unit, Montavilla Jazz and Blue Cranes sought to present their collective films in a unique way while making the event safe during the pandemic and rising case numbers (masks are required at this event).
Festival ’21: Film Night will start with a live performance by Portland post-jazz quintet Blue Cranes followed by a screening of the group’s music-films from their upcoming VOICES album directed by filmmakers Jim Blashfield, Sarah Whelden, Rachel Blumberg, and Reed Wallsmith. VOICES, which began in 2016 as a collaboration between the quintet and nine vocalists, will be released later this Fall.
The evening with conclude with the premiere of Call + Response presented by Montavilla Jazz comprised of three short film collaborations by composer/filmmaker pairings including, Micah Hummel + Jeff Oliver, Noah Simpson + Shilpa Sunthankar, and Idit Shner + Deejuliano Scott.
