See Hear Podcast episode 107 - Free The Jazz

 

To some people, Ornette Coleman represents the adventurous spirit of jazz. To others, Kenny G is as exciting as it gets. This episode is more dedicated to the former.....

Welcome to episode 107 of See Hear Podcast.

This month, Tim has selected the film under discussion. It's a documentary filmed in a jazz club in Budapest called “Free The Jazz”. Released in 2014, but seemingly filmed in 2007, its format is simple. Director Czabán György interviewed a range of jazz musicians from Germany, England, Japan, America and Norway about their love of free jazz and what it means to them. After each 2 minute interview, we see that musician in action....then it moves onto the next performer.

On the surface, this doesn't sound like a great film format. However, it allows people who may not necessarily be familiar with many of these artists to listen to what they have to say and sample their music. If you don't like one, you only have to wait a brief time to the next one – the jazz sampler equivalent of speed dating if you will. In that regard, this film is highly worth watching, both if you're a fan of free jazz or even if you're not. It's informative enough for it's format, and allows you to follow up on those artists that may take your interest.

Kerry, Tim and Maurice discuss their histories with free jazz, how it's different from tonal and modal jazz, and the politics that inspired some of the musicians. They debunk the notion that it's groups of musicians playing what they want with no thought.....oh, and they discuss the film....

They dedicate the episode to the memory of the recently deceased Peter Brotzmann, a giant in the field of free jazz.

“Free The Jazz” is on YouTube in its entirety to watch at: https://youtu.be/KHlshNgkmOE 

There are hard subs in Hungarian, but much of the film is in English, and you can activate the English subs for those musicians speaking in other languages.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 107 from here.

See Hear Podcast episode 106 - Hilary and Jackie

 

The history of cinema is loaded with films about siblings and the problems that go with loving and competing with your flesh and blood: The Godfather, A Simple Plan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Eat Drink Man Woman.....and Hilary & Jackie.

Welcome to episode 106 of See Hear Podcast.

Classical music history records that among the greatest of cellists was Jacqueline du Pre'. Her interpretations of the cello concertos of Elgar and Dvorak amongst others are considered amongst the pinnacle of the recorded canon. She had a sister, Hilary, who started life equally talented as a flautist. Circumstances worked against her continuing, so she married and carried on life domestically without concern. Sadly, Jacqueline died of MS in 1987. Hilary and their brother Piers wrote a memoir called A Genius In The Family which stirred up controversy with classical musicians who'd worked with Jackie, as well as fans. The film that followed, “Hilary and Jackie” caused similar issues. Hilary defended her stance in writing about her relationship with her sister citing that no one who worked with her knew her the way she did.

Rachel Griffiths and Emily Watson are superb in the title roles, but we discuss whether the film falls into the problems that many biopics suffer from. We also wonder how problematic is it to accept on face value some of the assertions Hilary du Pre' made about her sister (with denials from her daughter and Jackie's husband Daniel Barenboim). Do they matter when telling a story that everyone accepts is going to have facts altered for “dramatic purposes”? Do peoples' motivations to create art at its peak standard create divisions between them rather than bring them together? Podcast siblings Kerry, Tim and Maurice attempt to get deep with these questions.

The film is showing on Prime in the US (and hopefully other regions), and at the time of this writing is on SBS-On Demand in Australia. It's also worth watching a posthumously made documentary on Jacqueline that focuses more on her artistic side called Remembering Jacqueline du Pre' on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4w91_ilgw&t=2s

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 106 from here.

See Hear Episode 105 - Sound of Noise

 

Do you remember when you were a kid and you liked to make percussive sounds on biscuit tins, cushions, the neighbour's fence, or your own stomach? Of course you do!!!! No matter whether you took up an instrument or not, percussion is always fun......until nasty neighbours tell you to shut up because you're making noise and disturbing their peaceful afternoon listening passively to Kenny G!!!!!

Welcome to episode 105 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim, Kerry and I look at a Swedish film from 2010 called Sound of Noise. A guerilla group of percussionists (is that a snare of drummers????) come out of the shadows like a flash mob to perform their composed percussion pieces using any number of found objects – suction hoses, oxygen tanks, money being shredded, bulldozers - and the local constabulary are not pleased. They are determined to rid the city of “musician scum”, particularly one officer who has grown up hating music!!!!

We discuss the ubiquity of music in society and how we passively accept it when forced on us by some and reject it when brought on by others. We also talk about heist films, music futurism, and playing drum kit while in high pursuit by the police. There's plenty to take in from Sound of Noise, and we hope you enjoy our conversation.

The film is on Youtube in the US at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQhD3AmV1Y (you'll have to use a VPN if outside....but it is free of charge). I also believe it's on Prime in the US.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 105 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 104 - Tapeheads

 

We've all seen 'em....films about people with a “dream”. They start out poorly, but triumph by the third act. Usually, they're comedic with a serious lesson to be learned.

Then there's Tapeheads.

Welcome to episode 104 of See Hear Podcast.

John Cusack and Tim Robbins star as a pair of underqualified entrepeneurs (especially Cusack) in the music video field. The film was made during the late 80s during the MTV era – when they supposedly played music videos. Tapeheads is loaded with cameos from musicians who wanted to make fun of the whole notion of visuals to sell music, especially when the visuals had nought creativity from themselves.

Tim, Kerry and I discuss the film, but also look into MTV itself, the nature of satire in cinema, films reflecting the culture of the period, and drunk tests....something for everyone.

Let's get into trouble.....

You can watch the film on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4kdKdibTMQ

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 104 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 103 - Coal Miner's Daughter

 

Biopics about contemporary musicians have been a very common thing in cinema, particularly over the last 40 to 50 years. As we've often discussed on the show, they often follow a familiar pattern – a grocery list, if you will, with all the known high and low points of the subject's life story the audience expects. However, before there was a glutton of such movies, there were a few that had no rules to follow so relied more on character study than cherry picking from 40 years of history.

Welcome to episode 103 of See Hear Podcast.

Kerry has made her first film selection for the show. It's the 1980 film about country singer Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner's Daughter. During the 1960s and 1970s era when it wasn't the done thing, Lynn wrote her own songs. When it wasn't the done thing, her songs were about being a strong woman who took no nonsense. Of course, life is never as simple as that. She also had to contend with her husband “Doolittle” Lynn who was part supporter / part tormentor. The film charts their relationship as well as her friendship with Patsy Cline, her family in a tiny town in Kentucky, and life as a highly loved singer. Yes, all these are talking points for most biopics, but this one tends to look more at Lynn's state of mind and her growth from shy youth to someone with self belief.

Our beloved Tim Merrill is back for his first show in nearly a year. The See Hear crew is a trio again. Tune in as we talk about our origins with country music, thoughts on the film, a scene I believe should have been in the film (my own shopping list check box, if you will), and Tim's suggestion on how Stephen King would have ended the film.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 103 of See Hear from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 102 - Tender Mercies

 

After a hiatus of several months, See Hear podcast is back to fill your earholes with discussion of music-centric films and interviews with directors of such films.

For episode 102, the focus is on Tender Mercies, the 1983 film starring Robert Duvall about an ex country singer who's trying to find some semblance of normality after an existence of alcoholism, music industry ego and domestic violence. It's a theme that's been tackled before in a myriad of films, but as the saying goes, the devil is in the detail. It's written by Horton Foote (script writer for To Kill a Mockingbird) and directed by Bruce Beresford, a director previously known more for his films about Australian machismo than the sensitive, quiet subject matter that pervades Tender Mercies.

Tim is still on break (coming back soon I'm assured). This film was Bernie's pick but was also not available to record. Sadly, after this recording, he informed me that he's leaving the show. I'm going to miss his input.

So onto the good news. Friend of the show Kerry Gately Fristoe was recruited for this episode as special guest, but had so much fun that she will now be a permanent member of the See Hear crew. I'm absolutely thrilled she's agreed to join. This episode isn't her debut with the show, but it is the start of a new era of See Hear. Please tune in and giver her a warm welcome.

WE'RE BACK!!!!!! Spread the word.....please.....

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 102 of See Hear from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 101 - Interview with Amit Itzcar, director of "Furious And Fast: The Story of Fast Music And The Patiphone"

 

I'm lucky to live in a town with a great music scene. Notwithstanding the tough times that both bands and venue operators are facing in the wake of the pandemic (and the rip-off merchants who believe that their bottom line is more important than paying musicians a living wage), Melbourne has always had a healthy music culture as do many cities around the world. I'm talking about cities where music venues are plentiful, bands are playing all week, and punters with a myriad of tastes can find something to please them.

One of those cities is Tel Aviv.

Welcome to episode 101 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim is still away and Bernie was running the Rock 'n' Roll Jumble Market, but I had the company of Israeli director Amit Itzcar. He has directed a great documentary called "Furious And Fast: The Story of Fast Music And The Patiphone”. On one level it is a film about an independent record label (Fast Music) in the late 90s to the early 2000s. This was a time when there were nearly no such thing in Israel. Linked to this label was a club on the wrong side of the track in Tel Aviv that was home to many garage and punk bands. Some achieved worldwide fandom....some just got gigs at the club. I had to pose a question about musician Ami Shalev whose wild behaviour made me think of another musician we've discussed on the show....

On another level, the film is about the friendship of Amir Schorr and Jango – musicians both who started the label and the club after realising they didn't like the control of the major labels. A familiar tale in your music-loving city?

Amit and I spend time talking about the bands, the making of the film, and his “day job” at Tel Aviv Cinematheque....and his role in a number of video clips for the duo, Lo (Hebrew for “no”). Even if you haven't seen the film yet, I think there's plenty here you can enjoy about the discussion.

I send my gratitude to Yaniv Eidelstein who suggested this film to me, and who was responsible for the English subtitles for the film. Keep an eye out for it on the film festival circuit and hopefully, it won't be too long before it gets a VOD release.

You can listen to many of the Fast Music roster of artists in Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQtVFukqZ_yD6vU8CuvSbQ/videos (the records are almost impossible to get a hold of nowadays).

You can watch the video clips Amit appears in for Lo at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrg3nKVmQ_TlBOgJoNF36-g

….and just for the fun of it, here's a Q & A at Cinematheque with Henry Winkler that Amit tried to moderate.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfBlmVtIx54&t=2377s

You can keep up to date with when the film gets a screening near you at https://www.facebook.com/amitzcar

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 101 from here.