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The Wild One film image; large group of men all in leather jackets

Jimi James: Blues for Brando

+ The Wild One Film Screening

VIFF Live

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“What are you rebelling against?”
“What have you got?”

The Method era coincided with the arrival of bebop. Both disciplines combined formal master with greater autonomy, introspection and improvisation. You can be sure Brando was grooving to Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie et al, just as the jazz men would have been checking out hot movies like Streetcar and The Wild One.

The Jimi James Quintet is honoured to be paying tribute to what might be the most impactful development in jazz history: the emergence of bebop. In playing the music of such jazz legends as Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Clifford Brown and Charlie Parker, this set will highlight the innovations and evolutions of the bebop style. With a sophisticated, heartfelt, and exuberant sound, the group features Hugh Penner — trumpet, Tamas Balai — alto saxophone, Jimi James — piano, Arvind Ramdas — drums, and Kosma Busheikin — bass.

About The Wild One (Laszlo Benedek, 1954, 79 min)

Banned in many countries upon its release, The Wild One is the first film about 1950s youth rebellion, preceding films like Rebel Without a Causeby several years. It features Marlon Brando as the leader of a motorcycle gang – the Black Rebels – that disrupts a legitimate motorcycle race and then rides into a small town where they terrify the residents and fight with a rival gang. The Wild One crystallized Brando’s rebel image.

 

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A sleazy good time.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Guest

The Jimi James Quintet

Date

Jul 5

Time

8:00 pm

Venue

VIFF Centre, VIFF Cinema

19+
140 min

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Credits

Screenwriter

John Paxton

Cinematography

Hal Mohr

Editor

Al Clark

Original Music

Leith Stevens

Production Design

Rudolph Sternad

Art Director

Walter Holscher

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