From filmmakers Jørgen Leth and Andreas Koefoed, ‘Music for Black Pigeons’ is a cinematic documentary that explores the lives and processes of some of the world’s most renowned and prolific jazz musicians including Jakob Bro, Bill Frisell, Lee Konitz, Paul Motian, and Midori Takada.
Shot throughout North America, Europe, and Japan over 14 years, ‘Music for Black Pigeons’ finds inspiration not only in the individual and diverse methods of the musicians documented, but also in the unique energy and camaraderie created when musicians collaborate.
Shooting in the time-honoured jazz tradition of simply “letting the tape roll”, Leth and Koefoed discover intimate, improvised moments between pioneers of experimental music at recording spaces in New York, Copenhagen, and Lugano.
Unpredictable live jams are interspersed with brief, illuminating portraits of those participating, such as celebrated jazz saxophonist Mark Turner, innovative double bassist Thomas Morgan, avant-garde jazz drummers Joey Baron and Andrew Cyrille, trumpet player Palle Mikkelborg, the wildly prolific founder of ECM Records, Manfred Eicher and many more.
Privileged with some of the final recorded performances of several characters who sadly passed away during the course of filming, Leth and Koefoed pay earnest tribute to these pioneering musicians who have since left the world. In capturing the intimate process between its eclectic cast, ‘Music for Black Pigeons’ helps to lay the foundation for future generations.
