music documentary

THEREMIN MAGIC: that most unworldly of instruments

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THEREMIN FEVER. Photo courtesy of Cinequest.

The documentary Theremin Magic explores that most weirdly unworldly of musical instruments, the Theremin.  Documentarian Cressandra Thibodeaux took advantage of a global Theremin festival (who knew?) to film the world’s top five Theremin players. 

The five are a diverse lot, and their mastery of the instrument is astonishing.  Because the instrument is played by waving one’s fingers in the air next to it, the performances are visually somewhere between conducting an orchestra and dancing ballet.  At the very end there’s a scene with an entire classroom full of Theremin players.

If you are interested in music and haven’t dived deeply into the Theremin, this is all interesting.  Cinequest hosts the world premiere of Theremin Magic.

A POEM IS A NAKED PERSON: Leon Russell in his prime

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Leon Russell in A POEM IS A NAKED PERSON
Leon Russell in A POEM IS A NAKED PERSON

During the years 1972-4, documentarian Les Blank hung out and filmed around Leon Russell’s Oklahoma recording studio, and A Poem Is a Naked Person is the result.

This was the period when Russell produced two of my very favorite albums, Leon Live and Hank Wilson’s Back, so I especially enjoyed the music.  There’s also a nice snippet of Willie Nelson (pre-beard and pigtails) singing Good Hearted Woman.

In fact, all of the Leon Russell parts (both talking and performing) are great. The problem is that Blank filmed everybody and everything in the neighborhood, including a tractor pull, the demolition of a building and a seemingly deranged and snake-obsessed artist.  There’s also a lot of conversation between people who are very stoned.  Getting stoned is a lot more fun than listening to stoned people talk.

The documentary’s puzzling title originates from liner notes on a Bob Dylan album.

A Poem Is a Naked Person has been a bit of a Lost Film, until recently only shown at screening where Blank was present.  Now you can stream it on Amazon Instant, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.