Jazz Inspired BBC Short Film "Conversation Piece"
November 2, 2010 at 5:00 AM James Rocarols, Content Producer for BBC Film Network, brought this short film to my attention recently ~ the concept is interesting and different! Here's a synopsis from the film credits:
The Story ~ One sleepy Sunday morning, Jean notices a chip on a treasured vase. She accuses Maurice, her husband since whenever. He denies it. Employing a variety of tactics, Jean attempts to get to the bottom of the situation.
This unique musical-of-sorts matches every single syllable of dialogue to every single note from jazz cornetist Rex Stewart's 1966 improvised recording "Conversation Piece
Produced as part of BBC Film Network's BBC Drama Shorts 2009 commission, in conjunction with Lighthouse Arts & Training and BBC Writersroom.
You can find out more information by clicking this link, Rex Stewart (22 Feb 1907 - 7 Sept 1967), but the following will give you a little background on Mr. Stewart:
Rex StewartRex played cornet for eleven years with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was one of the many musicians that Ellington recruited for having a unique musical style. Several Ellington compositions have solos and passages that were written specifically with Rex's cornet in mind.
After departing from Ellington's band, Rex went on tour through Europe and Australia. Later in life he took residence in New Jersey to run a farm and worked in radio and television. (http://www.harlem.org/people/stewart.html)
So, what did you think about the film? The concept? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!
BBC Film Network, Conversation Piece, Joe Tunmer, Rex Stewart | in Artists, History | Permalink 
Reader Comments (6)
The film is brilliant, an original idea and very well done. I may put it on my blog, with a link to yours. This is my first visit here (via NPR's A Blog Supreme) and I'll be back for more.
Hello Lorenzo!
Thank you for your first time visit and for checking out the BBC short film. I ♥ what you wrote about it on your blog the Alchemist's Pillow!
If PJ from NPR's A Blog Supreme reads this, thank you again for linking to the original post. :)
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Very nice! Rex Stewart was my earliest favorite - a true master of sound.
Hey Josh!
Wow - I would not have learned that Rex Stewart was your "earliest favorite" without posting this short film. :)
I've also learned that:
(1) He's from Philadelphia.
(2) Mr. Stewart played with Fletcher Henderson before he joined Duke Ellington in 1934.
(3) He also toured Europe and Australia with Jazz at the Philharmonic from 1947 to 1951.
Thank you for checking out the post!
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Hello!
Thank you for checking out my website! How do I find the subjects for my posts? I talk to people online (mostly on Twitter) to find out what everyone is doing or working on.
I also research the Internet to try to find subjects that other people aren't blogging about in my niche.
I hope that information is helpful to you.