Ovation TV | Musician

Ken Vandermark, avant-garde improvisational jazz musician and recipient of a 1999 MacArthur Genius Grant, spends every waking moment composing, arranging and performing his music - proving in his own way that he can make a living through his passion.

Common sense says you can't make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark's work ethic is almost mythic. The Chicago reed player has released over 100 albums with nearly 40 ensembles, spends over eight months per year on the road, and lives every other waking moment composing, arranging, performing -- and trying to discipline his two hyperactive canines. Though Vandermark was the recipient of a 1999 MacArthur genius grant, he still spends most of his life in smoky clubs and low-budget recording studios, hoping people will plunk down hard-earned cash to hear his wholly non-commercial music. Following the artful cinéma vérité style of the internationally acclaimed Sheriff, Musician forgoes all interviews and voice-overs. It is a fly-on-the-wall time capsule that expertly captures every subtle sound and texture of this most American of art forms.

The movie is part of the WORK series of documentaries by Daniel Kraus (www.workseries.com) to be released on DVD , May 27, 2008.

OVATION TV, ART LIKE
NEVER BEFORE. TV LIKE NOTHING ELSE
http://www.ovationtv.com

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Music

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• jazz
• indie
• improvisation
• Ovation TV Channel
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[thomasloyens]

Thanks for posting! and by the way, who's records was he listening and playing to?

[RichardJ60]

totally agree with Ken V....brilliantly put!