Fire Music was warmly received at the New York Film Festival by both festivalgoers and critics alike. Our director Tom Surgal was chosen to be on a select panel of filmmakers to weigh in about the current state of documentaries. Paul Shaffer (The Late Show Band) came to a screening and lauded the film and effused enthusiastically over our composer Lin Culbertson's score. This was a direct result of all our cumulative hard work over the years, but the work is not over. We are still seeking to expand the film to include all the other great footage that we have shot. We are also in the process of actively pursuing a distribution deal. Here are some press quotes and links to NYFF activities.
“Fire Music provides a concise, thoughtful account of the musical form which first blossomed in the late 1950s... The documentary does an excellent job of making the music come alive with its gripping performance footage and incisive interviews with many key players... Fire Music should be on any serious music lover’s must-see list.”
“In terms of the parameters it stakes out... Fire Music sets a new benchmark. The film clearly lays out how the original wave of free jazz evolved from what came before and how, for a brief yet indelible period, yielded a wealth of music that’s still unparalleled in its gritty intensity and deep spiritual resonance. Thanks to Tom Surgal, we have a record of what it felt like to be there. ”
