NUBLU

a MUSIC documentary

by FIRAT SEZGIN & SERCAN SEZGIN

“Above all, the world pictured by Nublu: Music of Now looks like a great time - exciting, truly new music in warm, social and faintly chaotic surroundings, as all the best clubs generally are. Capturing this spirit is to the credit of the film, and in reflecting the vibe at Nublu itself,”

— FRANCIS GOODING, THE WIRE

ABOUT

Nublu is an impressionistic music documentary featuring a musician run venue in the lower east side of manhattan. Founded and curated by its owner, Ilhan Ersahin, the documentary highlights prominent musicians and original performances reminiscent of the older NYC nightspots & The Loft Jazz scene.

TRAILER

TEASER

NUBLU SYNOPSIS

Nublu features big chunks of musical performances from Nublu Orchestra, Henry Threadgill’s Ensemble, Sun Ra Arkestra, Brazilian Girls, Jojo Mayer’s Nerve & more, whilst visiting the history of some of the earlier jazz clubs in the East Village.

The film also focuses on some of the prominent characters of Nublu. lhan Ersahin, a composer/saxophonist, the founder and the music curator of Nublu, guides us through the opening of Nublu, the development of Nublu Orchestra with Butch Morris, and his curation of the two other Nublu Jazz Festivals in São Paulo and Istanbul.

Petar Timotic, the resident artist of Nublu, talks about some of his paintings on Nublu’s walls; particularly his sketch on Ahmet Ertegun, his controversial painting on Julian Assange, and his live painting depicting the last performance of Butch Morris.

Butch Morris, a conductor, composer and cornetist, discusses his motivation for developing his craft and the distinct musical grammar that he employs during his conductions.

Butch’s passing pushes a close collaborator, drummer and a regular of Nublu, Kenny Wollesen to succeed him as the conductor of Nublu Orchestra. The film concludes on this note with a tribute performance in memory of Butch Morris.

DIRECTOR’S VIEW

Nublu reshapes, reinvents itself every night. The music, the regulars, the lower east side, the dj sets, the newcomers, the art on the wall; they all intertwine and influence each other.

This music film carries both traditional and experimental language in the way it guides the experience of the spectator, but most importantly it aims to use Nublu’s language to make it an impressionistic documentary.

The language of the film is expressed through an esthetic diversity, embodying the same diversity used to curate music in Nublu. The visual approach is therefore not unifying, but variegated to enhance the patchwork quality of Nublu.

In this sense, any given concert or conversation does not intend to fulfill the experience in its totality. The moments witnessed are rather fragments of lengthy performance pieces. Fragments of life in Nublu.

In the same way the audience adapts itself to the night, the camera reacts to the musicians’ movements and the ever changing light and layout of the space.

The lofts run by musicians in the 70s offered artists such as Sam Rivers, David Murray and numerous orchestras the benefit of experimenting freely, in long stretches of time. These kind of places carved the way for Nublu. The film strives to bring out this informal state of affairs so present in Nublu.

PERFORMANCES

Brooklyn Gypsies, Henry Threadgill’s Ensemble,

On Ka'a Davis & The Famous Original Djuke Music Players,

Nublu Orchestra Conducted By Butch Morris,

Sun Ra Arkestra, Graham Haynes Synesthesia, Tamango's Urban Tap,

Brandon Ross Pendulum, I Led 3 Lives, Brazilian Girls, Low Mentality,

Alex From Tokyo, Jojo Mayer's Nerve Feat. Malik, Hess Is More,

Graham Haynes And Velibor Pedevski, Ilhan Ersahin's Istanbul Sessions Feat. Erik Truffaz,

Roy Ayers Band, Calibro 35, Robert Glasper Experiment,

Love Trio With Lanny Gordin & Joao Parahyba,

Love Trio Feat. Arto Tuncboyaciyan,

Nublu Orchestra Conducted By Kenny Wollesen

INTERVIEWS

Henry Threadgill: Composer, Saxophonist & Flutist

On Ka'a Davis: Guitarist, Composer & Painter

Butch Morris: Composer, Conductor, Cornetist

Juini Booth: Double & Electric Bassist

Graham Haynes: Cornetist, Trumpeter & Composer

Velibor Pedevski (Hardedge): Sound Designer, Artists' Manager

Ilhan Ersahin: Founder Of Nublu, Music Curator, Composer, Saxophonist

Petar Timotic: Artist

Jojo Mayer: Drummer

Ronald Jean-Gilles: Dj & Nublu Staff

Jesse Murphy: Bass Player

Kenny Wollesen: Drummer