Vince Giordano: There's a Future in the Past (2016)

Bandleader Vince Giordano keeps the Jazz Age alive with his 11-member band The Nighthawks, vintage musical instruments, and a collection of more than 60,000 original arrangements from the 1920s and '30s.

Directors:

Dave Davidson, Amber Edwards

Writers:

Dave Davidson (co-writer), Amber Edwards (co-writer)

Stars:

Vince Giordano, Garrison Keillor, David Johansen

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vince Giordano	...	Himself - Band leader
Garrison Keillor	...	Himself
David Johansen	...	Himself
Terry Gross	...	Herself - Interviewer (voice)
George Wein	...	Himself
Catherine Russell	...	Herself
Andy Stein	...	Himself - Violinist
Mark Lopeman	...	Himself - Reeds
Jim Fryer	...	Himself - Trombone
Jon-Erik Kellso	...	Himself - Cornet
Dan Levinson	...	Himself - Reeds
Mike Ponella	...	Himself - Trumpet
Ken Salvo	...	Himself - Banjo / Guitar
Peter Yarin	...	Himself - Pianist
Adrian Cunningham	...	Himself - Reeds

Storyline

A feature-length documentary about musician, scholar and bandleader Vince Giordano who, with his 11-member band The Nighthawks, has doggedly kept alive the popular music of the 1920s and '30s for the past forty years. Through Vince's story, the viewer will be immersed in the Hot Jazz and Swing that fueled Prohibition high-jinx and cheered up Depression-era America. And they will see what it takes to make a life as a professional jazz musician in 21st Century New York. Giordano's dedication, along with a handful of others, has kept this cultural phenomenon on life support through hard times, and introduced it to a new generation of Hot Jazz devotees and virtuosos who are laying claim to this joyful, energetic music.

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Plot Keywords:

jazz musician | music business | jazz music | music band | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site production company home

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 2016 (USA)

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$684, 20 January 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$14,285, 14 April 2017

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vince Giordano plays an unusual Aluminum String Bass. Musicians aboard seagoing ships preferred aluminium to the traditional wooden bass so it wouldn't warp or crack from sea moisture or freeze in Alaska.

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Soundtracks

Public Melody Number One
Written By Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Courtesy of Sony/ATV Harmony, Bienstock Publishing Co. obo Redwood Music Ltd.
Performed by Catherine Russell

User Reviews

One of American history's most enduring band leaders highlighted in this film, and it is a keeper!

The movie was fabulous. It was very entertaining and moved along at a nice pace with plenty of music and interesting history along the way. Many of the Nighthawk band members spoke about their experiences with the band as well as a few of the other bands in NYC where they perform outside of their regular Nighthawks gigs. Plenty of action shots helped keep this movie lively & fun. It's enlightening to witness the effort and dedication Mr.Giordano has invested over his lifetime. The library of music and arrangements he has accumulated, along with the challenges presented having to travel and manage an eleven member band are seemingly impossible yet he stays with it year after year. I was so engrossed in the story I didn't want this movie to end, but it did and I am ready for part two if ever it happens. I'll be there if and when it does.