Trailer for Icons Among Us, which screened at the 2009 AFI Fest.
By combining rare archival stills, interviews with 75 jazz artists and live recordings culled from 25 hours of concerts, Icons Among Us is a dynamic and engaging document of many of the greatest jazz musicians of today. It contains interviews and performances from the likes of Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Ravi Coltrane, Medeski Martin and Wood, and many others. Capturing the spontaneity of performers who have an intimate knowledge of their instruments and a full knowledge of jazz history, the movie—created from four episodes of a cable and satellite TV series—shows how something like the same simple riff can become something completely different in the hands of different musicians. The dialogue between older and younger generations takes place with words, of course, but also with music. Like the music itself, ICONS AMONG US is fresh and constantly surprising, with a spirit and energy that innovates even as it recycles.