The wordofmouth resurgence of arthur russell the new. Multitalented musician arthur russell leaves iowa, follows allen ginsberg from san francisco to new york and launches a career that reaches its heyday in the 1980s. A portrait of arthur russell stars the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 10 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic, which collated. Wild combination a portrait of arthur russell watch. Director matt wolfs critically acclaimed documentary examines the life and work of arthur russell, an influential singer, songwriter, cello player an. In 1982, arthur russell and william socolov founded sleeping bag. When arthur russell died in 1992 he left an overwhelming archive of over a tapes that reveal the sublime genius of one of the most important musicians of the last 25 years. Arthur russell losing my taste for the night life by arthurwaxthevan. A portrait of arthur russell solar movie online wild combination is a visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter. Arthur russell thats uswild combination russells ballads from the mature phase of his career, where his cello and rhythmic sensibility are fully folded into his songwriting, are his. A portrait of arthur russell 1 hours and 11 minutes movie 2008 a portrait, mostly chronological, of composer, cellist, and vocalist arthur russell 19511992. The dvd also includes rare archival footage of two fulllength performances, soon.
Trained in contemporary experimental composition and indian classical music, russell relocated to new york in the mid1970s, where he became associated with lower manhattans avantgarde. His parents, friends and colleagues such as allen ginsberg and philip glass, his longtime. The world of arthur russell is full of serendipitous connections. Trained in contemporary experimental composition and indian classical music, russell found success in downtown new yorks avantgarde and disco scenes in the 1970s and 1980s, during which time he was associated with minimalism and the experimental music. Wild combination is a moving and absorbing portrait of the maverick musician. In 1979, arthur wrote and produced kiss me again, under the name dinosaur. Matt wolf director of wild combination steve knutson owner, audika records. A portrait of arthur russell, reveals, arthur russell quite literally had hundreds of tape reels documenting the material he. Before his untimely death from aids in 1992, arthur prolifically created music that spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of abstract art. A twin tribute to composer and avantgarde visionary arthur russell. Arthur is shy, acnescarred, from the prairie, constantly composing, and. The film uses rare as well as constructed archival footage and.
The film blends archival footage with illuminating interview segments featuring some of russells colleagues and most notable collaborators, including poet allen ginsberg, composer philip glass and. Arthur russell was one of the seminal influences in disco and 1970s1980s avant garde music, yet most people have never heard of him. Wolf employs a fractured filmessay style throughout the film, intercutting such. A portrait of arthur russell evoke a particular experience of connecting with the late musicians work. Wild combination is a visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist, and disco producer arthur russell.
As matt wolfs perceptive, beautifully shot film, wild combination. Wild combination documentary trailer youtube arthur russell terrace of unintelligibility duration. Not many people allow themselves the full extent of their complexity, the journalist david toop said in the russell film wild combination, and ocean movie. Arthur russell, the disco cellist in a world of echo. The opening titles of the 2008 documentary wild combination.
This is director matt wolfs portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist, and disco producer arthur russell. It was the first disco single to be released by sire records, and the first of many of arthurs innovative dance tunes. American cellist, composer, producer, singer, and musician. Wild combination mirrors the dreaminess of arthur russell. Arthur russell may 21, 1951 april 4, 1992 was an american cellist and composer from iowa.
As usual, this soul jazz compilation can boast extensive and useful liner notes, cover artwork of the original 12 or lp releases, and a good. A portrait of arthur russell cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. On summer nights, for decades, unbeknownst to russell or his family, locals have boated out to this same rock. Find arthur russell song information on allmusic allmusic. A portrait of arthur russell, director matt wolf etches out a biographical portrait of avantgarde musician, artist, and disco producer arthur russell, who. Arthur russell was born on may 21, 1951 in oskaloosa, iowa, usa. This was followed by is it all over my face by loose joints, released in 1980. Thats us wild combination arthur russell x the muppet. Before his untimely death from aids in 1992, arthur prolifically created music that spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of. With bob blank, ernie brooks, allen ginsberg, philip glass. Arthur russell born charles arthur russell jr may 21, 1951 april 4, 1992 was an american cellist, composer, producer, singer, and musician from iowa, whose work spanned a disparate range of styles. Arthur russell was a farm boy from oskaloosa who moved to new york via a. A portrait of arthur russell is director matt wolfs visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist, and disco producer arthur russell.
Matt wolfs documentary brings arthur and his music back to life through the eyes of his friends, family, and collaborators and, of course, through his music. A portrait of arthur russell is a documentary film about musician arthur russell. Its a fascinating story, this clash of 1960s idealism with the cold realities of modern science, though not one that director matt wolf wild combination. Thats uswild combination by arthur russell on amazon. He died on april 4, 1992 in new york city, new york, usa. A portrait of arthur russell 2008 multitalented musician arthur russell leaves iowa, follows allen ginsberg from san francisco to new york and launches a career that reaches. Wild combination mirrors the dreaminess of arthur russells music on film revisiting the impressionistic 2008 documentary about the underground music hero by. Wild combination is director matt wolfs selfdescribed filmic portrait of arthur russell, the cellist, composer and songwriter whose music which traversed the spectrum from minimalist avantgarde to disco has recently provoked a frenzy of interest and praise after a lifetime of obscurity.
It is a collection of extraordinary stories of unconditional familial devotion. A portrait, mostly chronological, of composer, cellist, and vocalist arthur russell 19511992. A portrait of arthur russell is director matt wolfs visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist. Arthur russell the world of arthur russell discogs. Director matt wolfs critically acclaimed documentary examines the life and work of arthur russell, an influential singer, songwriter. Arthur russell, taken from the album calling out of context. There is a hole at the heart of matt wolfs gentle, affectionate, exhaustively researched biography of arthur russell, and that is its subject. Released theatrically in 2008, the film was generally well received by critics, winning various awards at international film festivals. Check out thats uswild combination by arthur russell on amazon music.
This film, a moving and absorbing portrait, uses rare as well as constructed archival footage and commentary from russells family, his partner tom lee, his friends. Now, over fifteen years since his passing, arthurs work is finally finding its audience. Arthur russells genius lies in his ability to bridge any gap just listen to is it all over my face and youll see all barriers between white, experimental music and black, party music collapse. His parents, friends and colleagues such as allen ginsberg and philip glass, his longtime companion tom lee, and others provide commentary. Thats us before we got there thats morning time before we got there i just want to be wherever you are hard as i can be, its never too hard with this. Screening to include postshow panel discussion with the following guests. Wild combination is director matt wolfs visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist, and disco producer arthur russell. A portrait of arthur russell trailers and video, including teasers, extended looks, exclusive clips, footage, sneak peeks, interviews, and more on moviefone. Before his death in 1992, arthur prolifically created music that spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of abstract art. A portrait of arthur russell 2008 starring arthur russell and allen ginsberg on dvd and bluray. He was an influential member of the lower manhattan avantegarde art scene during the 1970s and 1980s. Director matt wolfs critically acclaimed documentary examines the life and work of arthur russell, an influential singer, songwriter, cello player and disco auteur who died tragically in 1992. A portrait of arthur russell is a documentary film about. Wild combination is director matt wolfs visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avantgarde composer, singersongwriter, cellist, and disco.