Band featured at Carson City Jukebox film festival jam, share rhythm with students
Internationally traveling band Blood Drum Spirit visited Carson High School on Tuesday to jam with students in Brian Fox’s orchestra classes. But it wasn’t a technical lesson.
“Don’t worry about the notes,” bass player Wes Brown told the students. “Just get inside the music and see how it feels. We’re just playing. If we just play, something is going to happen.”
Blood Drum Spirit — which has traveled the world, adopting native traditions into live jazz performances — is in town with filmmaker Sara Pettinella.
Pettinella’s documentary, “We Are One,” which follows the band members and their travels through Ghana to collaborate with local musicians and dancers, is being featured in the Jukebox International Film Festival.
The festival, which runs Thursday and Friday at the Carson City Community Center, is dedicated solely to films about music.
“We will be screening 20 titles and 10 music videos,” said Scott Young, festival coordinator. “The films have to be related to music in some way. The feature films have to incorporate a musical theme beyond a pretty soundtrack.”
In addition to the festival itself, two bands featured in the films will be performing in a variety of venues throughout the week.
Blood Drum Spirit will perform 8 p.m. Thursday at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. That evening, Shoe Tree Brewing Company will also premier a beer inspired by the band.
Santa Jam Vo Alberta, a Brazilian folk band featured in the documentary, “Hillbilly Symphony,” will play 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sassafras; and noon Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday at Comma Coffee.
For a complete schedule, visit jukeboxiff.org here.
Blood Drum Spirit drummer Royal Hartigan advised students to follow the example of musicians in Africa and other parts of the world who don’t care about commercial success.
“Their music is made for its own sake, for the heart and the spirit,” he said. “We’re inundated with spectacle in our market-driven society. That’s in stark contrast of creating music with a spiritual approach. We’re being deprived of our humanity.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 2018 Jukebox International Film Festival
WHEN: Thursday and Friday
WHERE: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.
MORE INFORMATION OR TICKETS: jukeboxiff.org
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