Micek Music

The Foo Fighters were an important band for me. Their first album was released in 1995. I devoured it. I can recall a long drive with my family from the state of Washington back home to California in which I played my cassette copy of the Foo Fighters debut on repeat. My Walkman must have felt exhausted by the end of that trip. Dave Grohl is the frontman of the Foo Fighters. He is also an amazing drummer. His first taste of fame was as the drummer of Nirvana. I was a couple years late to discovering Nirvana. By the time I had immersed myself in fandom of that band, the frontman Kurt Cobain had committed suicide. What a waste. But what a joy, then, to discover Dave Grohl's awesome songwriting talents. The documentary "Foo Fighters: Back and Forth" chronicles the first 16(!) years of the band. In his interviews, Mr. Grohl has an unfortunate propensity for the "F word". His inability to speak articulately on camera unfortunately renders many of his remarks void. ...

Tal Farlow (1921-1998) was a remarkable musician who revolutionized jazz guitar playing and then disappeared. He abandoned the plaudits, the fame, and the limelight for a quiet life in a town called Sea Bright on the Jersey shore, returning to his previous occupation as a sign painter. But he never stopped making music.  This 1981 documentary reveals the quiet life Farlow led in Sea Bright and features many interludes of his jaw-dropping exploits on the guitar. Farlow proves warm-hearted and winning. His remarkably huge hands reached intervals and chord shapes on the fretboard that are impossible for nearly all guitarists. He was physically gifted to accomplish special things on this instrument. That's not to say it was easy for him. Just like any other musician he had to graft and toil to achieve his skill set. It's a joy to see Farlow contented, flashing grins at his fellow musicians while in the midst of a jam session as they execute musical derring-do. It's interestin...

Watched this documentary knowing full well the turn of events: immense talent descends into self-destructive behavior -- booze, drugs -- and dies young. "Who Is Harry Nilsson?" isn't an amazing film portrait but it does provide an entry point to the musical offerings of said raconteur.  Nilsson was probably most well-known as The Beatles' favorite artist in the late 1960's. After the Fab Four had issued many public remarks upping Nilsson's work, Nilsson struck up enduring friendships with Ringo Starr and John Lennon. During different periods, each served as Nilsson's "wingman" when Nilsson would set out on his regular, wild binges. One is struck by what an angelic voice Nilsson possessed yet squandered due to misbehavior. His last wife remembers him with a smile and a laugh, which is lovely to see. What a long-suffering woman!  Another takeaway for me from this film is Nilsson's likeness to a more recent depressive singer-songwriter who fl...

Marc-Andre Hamelin is an outstanding Canadian-American concert pianist. This documentary film presents Hamelin as he prepares for a solo concert, checking in with him several times in the months and weeks leading up to the performance. His insights into the music he's practicing - selections by Haydn and Debussy, among others - are always revealing. We witness him sight-reading the Haydn work for the first time. Many would mistake his playing for a finished performance, but it becomes clear immediately that Hamelin maintains exceedingly high standards for his work. Also included on the DVD are the concert and an hour long sit-down interview in which Hamelin is probed by a staid French journalist. Hard to get through that interview, but the rest of the package is golden.

I must confess ignorance regarding Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. I'd never heard the work prior to viewing this concert/documentary film. I'm sure strains of it have passed my ears at some point in years past, but my recollection is foggy. No matter -- Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, is a masterful tour guide to the uninitiated. I hope to see more of the films in his "Keeping Score" series. These are illuminating for both experienced musicians and novices alike. There's something for everyone. Very exciting to witness snippets of the rehearsal process and see the conductor playing piano at home, rehearsing from his weathered score. All the while, M.T.T. is ebullient. His attention to detail in preparing the S.F. Symphony's performance of this symphony is remarkable. Even after the performance has ended he's still thinking about ways he could have elicited more emotive power from the music and from his musicians. This is ...

This PBS documentary film tells so many stories. It's a New York story. A story about the quest for fame & wealth. The story of a single father. A story about drug addiction. A story about child entertainers. A story about the crumbling music business. A story about how quick and easy it is to spend a paltry $10,000 record company advance! All these tales are presented in this outstanding film about an up-and-coming rapper named P-Star.  The documentary follows P-Star from age 9-13. She's usually billed as "The youngest girl in the game". Her skills on the mic are undeniable -- we see many scenes of her performing in the studio and on stage. Her father had a career in the music business decades previous and is integrally involved in his daughter's rise. Complicating matters, he is a single parent raising two daughters with no help from their mother. They live in a small apartment in Harlem. "P-Star Rising" is gripping from start to finish. It's...

Glenn Gould is probably the best-known classical pianist of the 20th century. This is down to his immense technical ability and also his set of idiosyncrasies. When out in public, he would rarely remove his thick wool gloves. He always performed and practiced the piano seated on a modified chair which sat extremely low, at an unorthodox height. He retired from concert performance at the tender age of 31. The list goes on. "Genius Within" is probably the best film portrait of Gould yet to be released. The first half is gripping. We watch this young upstart from a small Canadian town capture wild plaudits after his debut concerts in New York. Then he reaches an even wider audience after his masterful recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations sees release: Gould brought a vibrancy and fresh approach to the rather obscure Goldberg Variations. His playing on that record is a delight, a marvelous blend of precision and panache. The latter half of the film "Genius Within...

This CD/DVD package presents a singular occasion: the setting of legendary hip-hop producer J-Dilla's music for chamber orchestra(!) in a one-off concert event. Conductor & arranger Miguel Atwood-Ferguson does the heavy lifting here, often padding J-Dilla's minimalist masterpieces into arrangements more suiting the heft of the 60-piece "Ma Dukes" Orchestra. Ma Dukes is the affectionate nickname for J-Dilla's mother. Her stamp of approval was required for this project since J-Dilla passed away at a tragically young age from a lupus-related ailment. At times the members of the orchestra resemble an MTV casting call: these are beautiful people. I doubt they were recruited for their looks, but still -- it's notable that they don't look like gawky, music-conservatory bred nerds. Atwood-Ferguson has an unconventional conductor style, and this makes him a lot of fun to watch. Speaking of fun: I've never seen an orchestra visibly enjoy performing in conc...

Art Pepper (1925 - 1982) was one of the greatest alto saxophonists to ever grace a stage. He also was a severely troubled human being. He is most notorious for his addiction to heroin, which spanned several decades and landed him in prison numerous times. This brief documentary film (less than 50 minutes duration) finds Pepper in better physical health and performing again at or near his peak level. The man still had his delusions, though. At one point he deadpans to the camera, "I'm a genius. I don't think there's anyone out there who plays better than me. I'm a genius". Humility is not his strong suit. A fascinating portrait of a man whose past cast a dark shadow, and whose horn was a vessel for melodious disclosures.

Bill Withers is best known for penning the classic songs "Lean On Me", "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone", and "Just the Two of Us". In this humanizing documentary portrait we visit with Bill decades after the hurricane of fame swept through his life. He's not sure he wants to make music anymore. He struggles to feel inspired. Juxtaposed with present-day scenes of his quiet domestic life are clips of Bill in his heyday, performing on stages around the world. Now he's content to simply rest and reflect on his days in the limelight; he's no longer fueled by the passions of youth or a need to prove himself. That said, as the title of the film simply states, he's "Still Bill". Still a sensitive soul possessed of a poet's heart and an effervescent compassion for his fellow man.

Some music fans adore 1930's jazz, country, and blues music above any other era. It may seem strange to imagine this, but there is a cult following for this music and the men and women who made it. Director Terry Zwigoff (who later helmed the outstanding documentary profiling  cartoonist Robert Crumb - "Crumb") managed to find a few living legends from 1930's music. He coaxes them to tell some tales and perform some of their classic tunes for the camera. Chief among these elderly musicians is the irrepressible Howard Armstrong, nickname "Louie Bluie". He is an awesome mandolinist and fiddler. His skills are evident throughout this hour-long feature. This is one best movies I've ever seen about musicians and music-making.  I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these musicians. They are characters, every one of them. Be warned though: these guys are blues musicians, and as such their dialogue does get "blue". At times the subject matter veer...

There's no pretentiousness with these three... the Minutemen were straight from the heart. Mike Watt (bassist) is like the uncle we all wish we had. He is a king of storytelling, always taking his time. George Hurley (drummer) is humble beyond belief. And D Boon (guitarist) unfortunately is no longer around to speak for himself. You may not find melodies here that get stuck in your head for days, but you will be witness to an unforgettable portrait of true brotherhood. Highly recommended for fans of independent music.

I appreciate the simplicity of this documentary. I hadn't heard any Luna music prior to viewing this, and I can't say that I'll be purchasing any soon. But the film-making here is excellent, as is the editing. The members of Luna seem like they could be your neighbors or friends. Luna never had tremendous commercial success. We see the band in the van, at second-rate hotels, and packing up their own gear after their gigs. "Tell Me Do You Miss Me" gives viewers an honest view into the daily lives of touring musicians.

In the 1990's, American musician Ry Cooder travelled to Cuba and rendezvoused with some of that isolated country's top musicians. The music presented in this resulting documentary film is wonderful. The performances are spirited and everyone genuinely thrilled to be playing music together and finally have another chance at reaching a wider audience. It's worth noting that after watching this Ibrahim Ferrer will be your new favorite person for at least a week - he is a joy to behold.

There are 3 brilliant films that document the trajectory of 1960's American rock festivals: "Monterey Pop" (1967), "Woodstock" (1970), and "Gimme Shelter" (1970). All three are worth viewing. I especially enjoyed Monterey Pop because it documents the ascent of this movement. You'll witness the breakout U.S. performances of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, and Otis Redding. I fail to understand why Jefferson Airplane merit the inclusion of two of their songs. Among such a tremendous cast of musicians they are hardly a highlight, but that's my only gripe at the editing. The sound and picture are lovingly restored for this release, making this a must-see for any rock 'n roll fan.

Casual viewers of this concert film will inevitably become bored at some point while watching. This DVD offers about an hour and a half of an elderly man performing works for solo piano. Those who find this dull should be pegged as unfortunate gorillas! What singular performances these are - not merely because of the performer's prowess, but also because of the location. It is touching to witness Horowitz's return to his homeland after 60-odd years away. The reception from his audience in Russia is a joy to witness, as each individual strives earnestly to commune with the tones emanating from Horowitz's piano. And Horowitz leaves his best on the stage, grinning giddily to his audience and delivering a performance of emotional richness and depth.

It's great to share time with people who never gave up on their dreams. The core members of the Canadian band Anvil have kept their "heavy metal candle" burning, long after the flashbulbs and fans disappeared. This documentary contains several obvious homages to the classic film "This Is Spinal Tap". These gags are fun to look out for. I also find it hilarious that Anvil's drummer is named Robb Reiner and Spinal's Tap director was Rob Reiner. Is it kismet? Anyway, the Anvil crew are fun to hang out with and their unwillingness to quit is an inspiring testament to brotherhood and commitment.

Another tremendously affecting documentary. The low-budget look of the film is fitting given the rural northern Mongolia setting where most of the action takes place. Paul Pena was a blind American blues musician who fell in love with Tuvan throat-singing. So enamored was he with this otherworldly sound that he began practicing these singing techniques on his own in his San Francisco home. He became quite accomplished. Word spread of his unique ability and a trip was planned that would bring Paul to the native land of these bewitching sounds. The hospitality shown to Pena during his visit to Tuva is a joy to see. He repays the grace of his hosts with spirited performances of their native music. It is a story that must be seen to be believed.

This documentary is thoroughly riveting from start to finish. It casts a spotlight on the annual Cliburn piano competition held in Fort Worth, Texas. A humanizing portrait of artists attempting to achieve great things. There are so many moments of deep emotion worth savoring, both onstage and offstage. The musical merit of each participant is indisputable, and when a winner is crowned at the end it hardly feels as though they are head and shoulders above the rest. Each participant is a virtuoso, and as such, they make fascinating subjects.

I attended a screening of Carl Theodore Dryer's classic 1928 silent film "The Passion of Joan of Arc" this evening. The film was accompanied by a 22-piece orchestra and 100+ choristers. The musicians performed the oratorio "Voices of Light", composed some years ago by Richard Einhorn. He wrote the music specifically to accompany this film. Anyone who knows the story of Joan of Arc knows that there's no happy ending here. Her sufferings, graphically depicted onscreen are harrowing to behold. Maria Falconetti's performance as Joan has become legendary. Some hail it as the greatest film performance of all time. Her visage is magnetic. It feels as though she's disintegrating before your eyes. My father is notoriously close-minded in terms of films he'll watch. His classic line is: "Why would I pay to watch a movie that challenges me? My job challenges me enough, and they pay me! " He definitely wouldn't have enjoyed this evening's...