EC-CHAP Friday Night Film Series: "Calle 54" (G)

SUGGESTED DONATION $5.00

"Calle 54" (G). Music documentary released 2000 by Miramax Films.

This documentary, directed by Fernando Trueba, features a behind-the-scenes look into the music of many of the premier contemporary Latin musicians.

"Calle 54" stands with the "Buena Vista Social Club" as a landmark musical tribute" - Rolling Stone

"A Magnificent Film! Dazzling performances! It will open you to a thrilling new world." - The Wall Street Journal

"Fernando Trueba's wonderful documentary tribute to Latin jazz, is even better on a second viewing because the film is such a pure expression of the director's love for the music, a love so infectious it should leave you elated.

'I wrote this piece to be like a movie,' says the saxophonist Gato Barbieri before he
begins to play. One of the best-known performers in the film and renowned in the United
States for the weary machismo of his forlorn wails on the 'Last Tango in Paris'
soundtrack, he still wears his big-brimmed slouch hat and, wrapped in dramatic shawls,
resembles a South American widow from an Isabel Allende novel.

Mr. Barbieri mentions the names of filmmakers with whom he felt a kinship -- Jean-Luc
Godard, Luchino Visconti and the director of ''Last Tango,'' Bernardo Bertolucci -- men
who represent wildly different styles but who embraced danger and passion, as Mr.
Barbieri does. He talks about dropping out of recording for an extended period, alluding
to his unhappiness with the albums he released on A&M in the late 1970's. But this grand
old tiger can still blow a hole in the ozone layer. His magnificence remains unabated.
So does that of the pianist Bebo Valdes, who plays duets with his son, Chucho. (Bebo is
tickled by his son's avoirdupois, and Chucho's large hands span the keyboard like those of
another Atlas of the keyboards, the Canadian giant Oscar Peterson, although Chucho
plays with a much livelier attack.) Father and son reach into themselves for a
performance that's fiery and heart-rending." - Elvis Mitchell, NY Times

This film is a part of the EC-CHAP Friday Night Film Series hosted by the Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance (EC-CHAP), a 501.3.c non-profit membership-based cultural organization. To learn more and how you can become a member, visit www.ec-chap.org.

Cabaret and group seating. Doors 7:00pm / Show 7:30pm. Soft drinks and snacks available. We are pleased to offer our exclusive "BYOB&F" model - Bring Your Own Beverage & Food (Wine & Beer Only - I.D. Required).

 Call 518-791-9474 for information and table reservations.