R.I.P. David Meeker

[medjuck]

Just learned from friends that David Meeker, author of Jazz on Film has died. As one friend noted his death may not get much attention with Bill Lee and Tina Turner dying near the same time. (He once gave me a signed copy of Max Kaminsky's autobiography.)

[sidewinder]

That is sad news, RIP. I certainly remember his ‘Jazz In The Movies’ book coming out, although I never had a copy. I think he contributed to the ‘Jazz On Screen’ articles in Jazz Journal, back in the day.

[mikeweil]

R.I.P. That book is an admirable piece of work.

[medjuck]

He worked at the British Film Institute but was so discouraged with them that he gave his research to an American archive.  (IIRC: Library of Congress.)

[sidewinder]

9 minutes ago, medjuck said:

He worked at the British Film Institute but was so discouraged with them that he gave his research to an American archive.  (IIRC: Library of Congress.)

That’s interesting. I remember attending a season of jazz films put on by one of the London independent cinemas around 1980. Might have been at the Scala. I have the feeling he was involved in putting it together. Films included were ‘Jivin in Bebop’ and that one Bill Dixon was involved with, from my distant memory. Those were the days.

[medjuck]

Was the Bill Dixon one "Imagine the Sound"?

[sidewinder]

20 minutes ago, medjuck said:

Was the Bill Dixon one "Imagine the Sound"?

I think it was. As this film was made in 1981, that would make the date for the Jazz Film Season around 1981/82. As I recall it, they had some weird mixing on the bill so the Dixon was likely paired with something like ‘Jivin’ In Bebop’.

In those pre-YouTube times, seeing any sort of jazz film was a rarity. There was very little on BBC. Being a student at the time, I was totally up for these sort of film shows. Made a change from the e.g. Fellini and Fassbender seasons that I remember at places like the Scala (a bit of a fleapit, I recall). More’s the pity that we can’t have more of these now.

There were also some great all-night film shows which I remember from university. No jazz though. People used to bring sleeping bags in for those !

Edited May 25, 2023 by sidewinder

[sgcim]

Very sad to hear. Jazz in the Movies has been my go to reference music book for decades, in fact I have to go to it right now to find out who played guitar in a Raksin film soundtrack I just heard. RIP, Mr. Meeker, your immortality is guaranteed.

[sgcim]

On 5/25/2023 at 3:56 PM, sgcim said:

Very sad to hear. Jazz in the Movies has been my go to reference music book for decades, in fact I have to go to it right now to find out who played guitar in a Raksin film soundtrack I just heard. RIP, Mr. Meeker, your immortality is guaranteed.

Turned out to be Barney Kessel backing Leslie Uggams in a great version of "Don't Blame Me". As usual David Meeker's info was impeccable. RIP.