Don Cheadle Hollywood has a very long history of dragging its feet when it comes to putting the true life stories of famous African Americans up on the silver screen. It is a well known fact that film director Taylor Hackford's journey to bring his Ray Charles biopic 'Ray' (which contained an Oscar winning performance by Jamie Foxx) to fruition took a long and arduous 15 years! I guess if we did not know any better we would have to assume the studio bigwigs actually believe there was no audience to be found who would be interested in seeing the tales of these people of colour, no matter how crazy, eventful or just outright entertaining they may be. By the way, as a sidenote, after several unsuccessful attempts by Spike Lee to make the 'James Brown' story for a considerable amount of time, the movie version of The Godfather of Soul's life was recently given the green light by a major studio, albeit with another director.
Happily the trend continues as news has just been released that a film based on the life of the hugely influential jazz trumpeter and bandleader (also to my mind probably the coolest muthaf****r ever!), Miles Davis has been given the go-ahead. The acclaimed actor Don Cheadle has signed on not only to play Davis, but will also make his directorial debut on this project entitled 'Kill The Trumpet Player'. This is an obvious labour of love for Cheadle who has been trying to get the iconic musician's life on celluloid for many years.
This development reminds me of an occasion over 10 years ago when I was in an audience at the National Film Theatre in London attending a special interview with Wesley Snipes. At the time he informed us that he too had a burning desire to play Miles Davis on film and his production company were working full out to make this a reality. We should expect the finished product in the next year or so. The fact this did not happen only goes to show the kind of dogged determination and patience needed just get all the right pieces (finance, script, director, actors etc.) in place for a film of this nature to get off the ground.
Happily the trend continues as news has just been released that a film based on the life of the hugely influential jazz trumpeter and bandleader (also to my mind probably the coolest muthaf****r ever!), Miles Davis has been given the go-ahead. The acclaimed actor Don Cheadle has signed on not only to play Davis, but will also make his directorial debut on this project entitled 'Kill The Trumpet Player'. This is an obvious labour of love for Cheadle who has been trying to get the iconic musician's life on celluloid for many years.
This development reminds me of an occasion over 10 years ago when I was in an audience at the National Film Theatre in London attending a special interview with Wesley Snipes. At the time he informed us that he too had a burning desire to play Miles Davis on film and his production company were working full out to make this a reality. We should expect the finished product in the next year or so. The fact this did not happen only goes to show the kind of dogged determination and patience needed just get all the right pieces (finance, script, director, actors etc.) in place for a film of this nature to get off the ground.
Production on 'Kill The Trumpet Player' is scheduled to begin in June 2014 and will focus mainly on the period in Miles Davis' life when he had retired from making music and decided to return in 1979. The cast will include Ewan McGregor who will play a Rolling Stone reporter and Zoe Saldana who will play Frances Davis, a former wife of the musician. Added to the mix will be legendary jazz pianist (and former sideman to Davis) Herbie Hancock who will be involved with the production. All the ingredients lead me to believe this film has the potential to be a worthwhile project of outstanding quality. To say Miles Davis is an extraordinary character is putting it mildly. Not only a musical genius, this man was a troubled soul who trailblazed his way through life, facing his demons head on (including drug addiction and racism), sayng whatever was on his mind, throwing caution to the wind, whatever the consequences. If anyone can bring the complexities of such an artist to the fore, I am in no doubt, Don Cheadle is that man.
Not only have I included a clip of Miles performing 'So What' from my favourite Miles album, the majestic 'Kind Of Blue', I have chosen to also add a fantastic clip of film of Miles live in Milan, Italy in 1964 performing my all time favourite Davis track, 'All Blues'. The youngbloods (and future jazz stalwarts) who are playing alongside the master include a youthful Herbie Hancock on piano. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFuHKvEuFbU
Not only have I included a clip of Miles performing 'So What' from my favourite Miles album, the majestic 'Kind Of Blue', I have chosen to also add a fantastic clip of film of Miles live in Milan, Italy in 1964 performing my all time favourite Davis track, 'All Blues'. The youngbloods (and future jazz stalwarts) who are playing alongside the master include a youthful Herbie Hancock on piano. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFuHKvEuFbU
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