Les Blank's earliest music film focuses on the trumpet player himself, who, along with Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk and others sparked the change from Jazz into Bop int he 1940s.
From a December 2014 e-mail from Les Blank's son Harrod: "Dear Friends, Fans, & Family of Les Blank: We wanted to update you with what has happened with Les Blank and Flower Films since his death last year. As you may not know, Flower Films has been replaced by the non-profit Les Blank Films since Drew Barrymore's company had trademarked the name before Les had a chance to. Les Blank Films was established to preserve, promote, and distribute Les' films and many films have been re-mastered or are in the process of being re-mastered. Thanks to the Criterion Collection, 14 of Les' earlier films have been digitally re-mastered and are being released in a Les Blank box set called "Always For Pleasure." Criterion did a beautiful job on this release which includes interviews, extra shorts and images from Les' personal collection. Recently, Gina Leibrecht completed one of Les' last films that she edited and co-directed, "How To Smell A Rose," which premiered this year at the Telluride Film Festival here in the US and internationally at the IDFA in Amsterdam. This film is currently being released. We will be making announcements once the film has any theatrical bookings or is released on DVD/BLURAY. Next year, it is anticipated that one of Les' best films which was never released, "A Poem Is A Naked Person" about the music legend Leon Russell, will actually have its theatrical debut. We will let folks know once that becomes a reality. Please consider supporting Les Blank Films by purchasing the Criterion box set. There is also a Les Blank Films Facebook page which you could join if you like. Thank you - Harrod"
GENIUS!!!!!
From a December 2014 e-mail from Les Blank's son Harrod: "Dear Friends, Fans, & Family of Les Blank: We wanted to update you with what has happened with Les Blank and Flower Films since his death last year. As you may not know, Flower Films has been replaced by the non-profit Les Blank Films since Drew Barrymore's company had trademarked the name before Les had a chance to. Les Blank Films was established to preserve, promote, and distribute Les' films and many films have been re-mastered or are in the process of being re-mastered.
Thanks to the Criterion Collection, 14 of Les' earlier films have been digitally re-mastered and are being released in a Les Blank box set called "Always For Pleasure." Criterion did a beautiful job on this release which includes interviews, extra shorts and images from Les' personal collection.
Recently, Gina Leibrecht completed one of Les' last films that she edited and co-directed, "How To Smell A Rose," which premiered this year at the Telluride Film Festival here in the US and internationally at the IDFA in Amsterdam. This film is currently being released. We will be making announcements once the film has any theatrical bookings or is released on DVD/BLURAY.
Next year, it is anticipated that one of Les' best films which was never released, "A Poem Is A Naked Person" about the music legend Leon Russell, will actually have its theatrical debut. We will let folks know once that becomes a reality.
Please consider supporting Les Blank Films by purchasing the Criterion box set. There is also a Les Blank Films Facebook page which you could join if you like. Thank you - Harrod"