Next up we have excerpts from 1974’s “CBS Special: Ailey Celebrates Ellington” (https://youtu.be/wSsu-owfz2w?si=0GRRD2sPo8omYG84) which features dance pieces choreographed by Alvin Ailey-dancer, choreographer, activist and founder of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in honor of the life and works of Jazz legend Duke Ellington.
#LaEsoterica #AlvinAiley #DukeElllington #Jazz #dance

Towards the end of his life, Duke Ellington became both close friends and collaborators with Alvin Ailey. A fan since his teenage years, Ailey felt it was one of his life’s missions to do whatever he could to honor his musical idol especially in the light of his spring 1974 passing due to complications of Lung Cancer. This CBS special would form the foundations of 2 new Ailey ballets: “The Mooche” and “Night Creature”.
#LaEsoterica #AlvinAiley #DukeElllington #Jazz #dance

Now for something completely different: The 1933 Fleischer cartoon “Betty Boop in “Snow-White” (https://youtu.be/cKOSJ5AAwfc?si=Z22COuEyr0tVEwB0) featuring music by legendary Jazz bandleader and composer Cab Calloway
#LaEsoterica #BettyBoop #CabCalloway #Jazz #animation

Betty Boop in “Snow-White” (1956) utilizes rotoscoping techniques that transferred Cab Calloway’s signature dance moves to animated characters
#LaEsoterica #BettyBoop #CabCalloway #Jazz #animation

Time for our first feature presentation: “The Cry of Jazz” (1959) directed by Edward O. Bland (https://youtu.be/fE00fzXpI04?si=UG1JNrQCyofGuS6R) and featuring the music of poet, musician and Afro-Futurist Sun Ra and His Arkestra
#LaEsoterica #TheCryOfJazz #Jazz #SunRa #SunRaArkestra

Part documentary, part musical ethnography, “The Cry of Jazz” (1959) was conceived by the composer Edward Bland, novelist Mark Kennedy, city-planner Nelam Hill, and mathematician Eugene Titus and comments on the innovations of Black musical history while acknowledging the ongoing fight for civil rights. It was incredibly controversial for these reasons and the frank discussions between the multi-racial cast at the center of the film
#LaEsoterica #TheCryOfJazz #Jazz #SunRa #SunRaArkestra

“Amaryllis” By The Mary Halvorson Sextet (https://youtu.be/qm7YKlfnlTU?si=mX3DRCr6oY9YMqRq) is centered around the avant-garde jazz guitar work of Mary Halvorson. This song is from her 2022 album “Amaryllis” (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l_u8Q1TjPr1ODTK14OEphKiQ5yEOCk5DE&si=HdK7oTDe-v4AZSim)
#LaEsoterica #MaryHalvorson #jazz

Next we have our second feature presentation: A live set by the avant-garde free jazz collective The Art Ensemble of Chicago at the 1970 Festival de Jazz de Châteauvallon (https://youtu.be/gUUfu4lTdL8?si=mh8J-dc0MuFSGn6h) I don’t’ want to say too much goin into this so just sit back and experience this.
#LaEsoterica #ArtEnsembleOfChicago #Jazz

The Art Ensemble of Chicago is an Avant Garde free jazz and arts collective that has been making music and performing since the 1960s. In addition to using instruments both traditional, modern and invented with some performances utilizing at least 500 different instruments and noise makers
#LaEsoterica #ArtEnsembleOfChicago #Jazz