Welcome to our 33rd annual edition of Reel Music. We’ve been on the lookout all year for new works—and timely classics—to feature in our annual celebration of sound, music, and image. Whether your passion is jazz, blues, rock, soul, opera, classical, avant-garde—or anything in between—we hope you find something to discover and inspire you in this eclectic mix of the familiar and unknown. As always, our special thanks go to Music Millennium, Willamette Week, Walker, KINK.fm, MusicFestNW, All Classical Portland, PDX Jazz, XRAY.FM, KMHD, KBOO, PDX Pipeline, Oregon Music News, and Marmoset.
American Epic
Directed by Bernard MacMahon
Presented by Robert Redford, T Bone Burnett and Jack White, and produced for the BBC’s Arena and PBS, MacMahon and …
Bill Evans, Time Remembered
Directed by Bruce Spiegel
In the pantheon of great jazz pianists, few remain as influential as Bill Evans. His arrival in the late 1950s …
Concerto: A Beethoven Journey
Directed by Phil Grabsky
Over the course of four years, director Phil Grabsky followed celebrated Norwegian concert pianist Leif Ove Andsnes’ attempt to understand …
Cool Cats
Directed by Janus Køster-Rasmussen
In the 1960s, many American jazz greats traveled--and often permanently relocated--to Europe. Seeking to escape from systemic American police violence, …
Everybody’s Cage
Directed by Sandra Trostel
When John Cage (1912-1992), one of the most influential composers of New York’s 20th century avant-garde, was asked to summarize …
Jaco
Directed by Paul Marchand, Stephen Kijak
In 1976, Jaco Pastorius’ (1951-1987) melodic “singing” bass style redefined the role of the bass in modern jazz and rock …
Korla
Directed by John Turner
With his sparking jeweled turban, organist Korla Pandit (1921-1998) was an alluring enigma, television pioneer, and the godfather of exotica …
Landfill Harmonic
Directed by Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley
A testament to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit, Landfill Harmonic follows the Recycled …
Lee Scratch Perry: Visions of Paradise
Directed by Volker Schander
A visionary record producer and pioneer in both reggae and dub music, Lee Scratch Perry’s life has been an ongoing …
Magicarena
Directed by Niccolo Bruna, Andrea Prandstraller
“Built 2,000 years ago, the majestic Verona amphitheater—the biggest opera venue in the world—is, indeed, a ‘magic arena.’ Prandstraller and …
Mavis!
Directed by Jessica Edwards
At age 75, soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, The Staples Singers, are …
NW Music Videos Open Screening
Directed by Various
As part of the Reel Music Fest, the NW Film Center is proud to present an open screening of NW …
Orion: The Man Who Would be King
Directed by Jeanie Finlay
As a teenager in 1960s Alabama, Jimmy Ellis’ wonderful singing voice was unlike any other... except, that is, for one …
Roxy: The Movie
Directed by Frank Zappa
Filmed over three nights in December 1973 at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, Roxy: The Movie perfectly encapsulates the qualities …
Sam Lay in Bluesland
Directed by John Anderson
The man some call “the greatest drummer of all time” is mostly recognized for his signature double-shuffle beat—but is almost …
Seymour: An Introduction
Directed by Ethan Hawke
This intimate portrait of classical pianist, composer, author, teacher, and sage Seymour Bernstein offers a wise and charismatic reflection on …
Sons of the Wind
Directed by Bruno Le Jean
Director Bruno Le Jean set out to make a musical documentary about “gypsy jazz,” but ended up with a unique …
Syl Johnson: Any Way the Wind Blows
Directed by Rob Hatch-Miller
Aside from a couple of minor hits, Chicago soul singer Syl Johnson retired from the music industry in the 1980s …
The Amazing Nina Simone
Directed by Jeff Lieberman
Nina Simone (1933-2003) defied labels—musical, sexual, or political—and today enjoys a popularity and recognition never realized in her lifetime. Lieberman’s …
The Big Beat: Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock and Roll
Directed by Joe Lauro
From New Orleans to Blueberry Hill, the teaming of Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. and Dave Bartholomew is remembered as a …
The Glamour & The Squalor
Directed by Marz Evans
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame disc jockey Marco Collins became a radio star in the 1990s, serving as the …
The Man With A Movie Camera
Directed by Dziga Vertov
We welcome Los Angeles composer and bassist Tom Peters for a live performance of his score for Vertov’s classic city …
Theory of Obscurity: A Film About the Residents
Directed by Don Hardy
The avant-garde music and multimedia collective known as The Residents has never revealed the identity of its members, who always …
We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!
Directed by Andrew Horn
When Twisted Sister got their big break in 1983, they became one of the biggest glam rock bands of the …