Tradition Is a Temple

2013 American film

November 14, 2013 (2013-11-14)

Running time

96 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudgetUnder US$ 100,000

Tradition Is a Temple is an American documentary film about New Orleans jazz culture and modernization's effect on American traditions, written and directed by Darren Hoffman and released in 2013.^[1]

Synopsis

Contemporary New Orleans jazz musicians discuss their childhood introductions to music in Baptist churches and through local traditions such as the second line (parades) and jazz funerals, and the role of Danny Barker (1909–1994) in keeping traditional New Orleans Jazz alive through the 1970s and '80s.^[2] Asking the artists point-blank, director Darren Hoffman explores the potential "death" of traditional jazz through modernization and marginalization, and its preservation through mentorship and the continuation of traditions that intrigue and inspire young people to play the music of previous generations.

Performances and production

In addition to in depth personal interviews, Tradition is a Temple is composed of various multi-camera professional studio recordings. The performances were recorded by steve Reynolds at the University of New Orleans School of Music. The production took place completely post-Hurricane Katrina, beginning in August 2006.

References

^ "Tradition Is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans (2013)", IMDb.
^ Tom Reney, "New Orleans Brass | Tradition Is A Temple", New England Publis Radio, April 17, 2014.