PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY JASON ORR for FunkJazz Kafé/ Life Arts Films

Movie narrated by CHUCK D.

This award-winning film is the story of a cultural legend as told by the innovators of an important, and in some cases overlooked, era in Black culture. Spanning the late 1980′s through to the early 2000′s, this story goes deep into the fabric of soul music, it’s definitions, it’s pioneers, it’s offspring, it’s movements, the challenges with the “mainstream” industry as well as the evolution of the FunkJazz Kafé Arts & Music Festival, a music and artistic renaissance movement born out of Atlanta’s diverse musical and cultural arts heritage. The film covers the decade when Atlanta’s underground music scene became established on the world stage and a new generation of soul singers and musicians emerged. FunkJazz Kafé:Diary Of A Decade (The Story Of A Movement) also explores the question of how we got to live soul bands being non-existing in the commercial music landscape of the 21st century when there once was a plethora of soul and R&B bands since the creation of recorded music.

Appearances by: Cornel West, Dick Gregory, Erykah Badu, Cee Lo Green, Andre 3000, Jill Scott, Common, Roy Ayers, Jamie Foxx, George Clinton, Janelle Monae, Doug E. Fresh, Talib Kweli, Meshell NdegeOcello, Raphael Saadiq, Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul), Larry Mizell (Mizell Bros.), Joi Gilliam, Dallas Austin, Lil John Roberts, Goodie Mob, Omar Lye-Fook, MC Lyte,   Jamal Ahmad, Anthony David, Ray Murray (Organized Noize), N’Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies), Algebra Blessett, LeRonde Williams, Kevin Powell, Loose Ends, Bilal, Dionne Farris, Van Hunt, Eric Roberson, Donnie, Bone Crusher, Sticman (Dead Prez), DJ Kemit and Speech (Arrested Development).

“FunkJazz Kafé: DIARY OF A DECADE” [Trailer]

Be sure to catch one of the exclusive screenings on our film tour!

NEXT SCREENING:

Atlanta, GA – May 19th

Gallery 72 7pm -11pm (72 Marietta Street)

 

(Below:  “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade” SOLD OUT at BAM in New York City!)

If you want to see “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary of A Decade” in your city, hit the “DEMAND IT” button on the right side of this page. Thanks for your support.

Contact us at innovators@funkjazzkafe.com for screenings at colleges, art centers and museums to spark cultural, historical and educational dialogue with “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade” writer & director, Jason Orr in your city!

Click below to read about our previous screenings:

SCREENING CITIES:

Atlanta- July 14, 2011 – The Rialto Theater – National Black Arts Festival (SOLD OUT) 

Atlanta- July 15, 2011 – The Rialto Theater – National Black Arts Festival

Los Angeles Screening – Pan African Film Festival 2012 (Official Selection)

Atlanta Film Festival 2012 (Official Selection)

San Francisco Black Film Festival (Official Selection) - June 16th- (SOLD OUT) 

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (Official Selection) – June 22, 2012 -

Detroit, MI – July 28, 2012, -Charles H. Wright Museum General Motors Theater

Philadelphia, PA – Aug. 4, 2012 -BlackStar Film Festival – International House  – (SOLD OUT)

Atlanta, GA – September 22, 2012 – Atlanta International DocuFest Film Festival – Goat Farm Arts Center 

Dallas, TX – Saturday, October 13, 2012 – The Black Academy of Arts and Letters

Seattle, WA – Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Northwest Film Forum /Earshot Jazz Film Festival (SOLD OUT)

Seattle, WA – Sunday, October 28, 2012 – Northwest Film Forum /Earshot Jazz Film Festival

St. Lucia, St. Marteen and Antigua – Oct. 20 – 28, 2012 – 6th annual Capitol Jazz SuperCruise

Atlanta, GA – Nov. 7, 2012 – The Plaza Theater – Grammy Screening (SOLD OUT)

Charlotte, NC – Thursday, November 15, 2012 – The Neighborhood Theater

New York, NY – February 16, 2013 – Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) – New Voices in Black Cinema Film Festival (SOLD OUT)

Atlanta, GA – April 4, 2013 – The Plaza Theater (SOLD OUT)

Seattle, WA – April 20, 2013 – 10th Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival

Atlanta, GA – April 23, 2013 - Ga State University School Of Music and Intercultural Relations

Oakland, CA – April 30, 2013 – New Parkway Theater

Washington, DC – May 30, 2013 – The Howard Theater – 9pm

Atlanta, GA –  July 12, 2013 – Southwest Arts Center (SOLD OUT)

New York, NY – Wednesday, July 31, 2013 – Lincoln Center – “Sound + Vision” Film Series

St. Louis, MO – September 19, 2013 – Missouri History Museum (SOLD OUT)

Montgomery, Al – Alabama State University  – Friday, August 23, 2013

Montgomery, Al – 11th Annual ASU Black Film Festival – Saturday, August 24, 2013

Atlanta, GA - Inaugural FJK Documentary Film Festival + Music Conference -  Oct. 5, 2013 – Southwest Arts Center

Pittsburgh, PA – Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Blackstar Film Festival (Pittsburgh Edition) – Kelly-Strayhorn Theater

Atlanta, GA - FunkJazz Kafe Arts & Music Festival 20th Year Anniversary Pt. 1 -  July 24, 2014 – Porter Sanford Arts Center

Nashville, TN - Culture Fest -  Aug. 28, 2014 – Tennessee State Performing Arts Center

Atlanta, GA - 2nd Annual FJK Documentary Film Festival + Music Conference -  Nov. 22, 2014 – Southwest Arts Center

Atlanta, GA –  March 23, 2015 – Clark Atlanta University -Trevor Arnett Hall (223 James P. Brawley Dr.)

Detroit, MI –  November 11, 2015 – Wayne State University

Atlanta, GA –  May 19, 2016 – Gallery 72 (72 Marietta St.)

Chicago, IL – Sept. 20, 2016 – The Promontory (5311 S Lake Park Ave)

Fort Valley, GA – Oct. 27, 2016 – Fort Valley State University (1005 State University Dr)

Boston, MA – TBA

New Orleans, LA – TBA

London, England – TBA

Vancouver, Canada – TBA

 

 

Press:

See reviews on “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story Of A Movement) from  Indiewire/Shadow And Act, Blues & Soul Magazine and Total Eclipse Magazine below:

[CLICK ON IMAGES TO READ REVIEW]

Blues & Soul Magazine Review

MOVIE REVIEW “FunkJazz Kafe:Diary Of A Decade”: Diary of a Decade – Movie Review – By SentAsha – www.funkjazzkafe.com

Total Eclipse Magazine: 

Here are some “Behind The Scene” images while making “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary of A Decade (The Story Of A Movement)” over the years of interviewing our large cast.

PHOTO DESCRIPTION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LEFT TO RIGHT: ROW ONE: Director, Jason Orr interviewing Cornel West (2011) ROW TWO: Andre 3000 interview (2001), Chuck D meets Omar (2001), Director Jason Orr with Common and Erykah Badu (2000) ROW THREE: Director, Jason Orr talking to Dick Gregory (2011), Bilal performing at FunkJazz Kafe Arts & Music Festival (2004) ROW FOUR: Director, Jason Orr with George Clinton (2011), Jason Orr interviewing Public Enemy (2001) ROW FIVE: Loose Ends interview (2000), Joi Gilliam interview (2010) ROW SIX: Jamal Ahmad interview (2010), Jason Orr at Anthony David interview (2010) ROW SEVEN: Van Hunt Interview (2001), Kebbi Williams at FunkJazz Kafe Arts & Music Festival (2001) ROW EIGHT: MC Lyte interview (2004), Meshell Ndegeocello at FunkJazz Kafe Arts & Music Festival (2003) ROW NINE: Raphael Saadiq performing at FunkJazz Kafe Arts & Music Festival (2001), Omar interview (2001) ROW TEN: Director, Jason Orr, interviewing Erykah Badu (2000), Janelle Monae interview with direcor, Jason Orr (2007) ROW ELEVEN: Jamie Foxx and director, Jason Orr at a backstage interview (2001), Cee Lo Green interview (2010)