| Imagine the Sound | |
| Director: | Ron Mann |
| Producer: | Ron Mann Bill Smith |
| Starring: | Paul Bley Bill Dixon Archie Shepp Cecil Taylor |
| Cinematography: | Robert Fresco |
| Editing: | Sonya Polonsky |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | Canada |
| Language: | English |
Imagine the Sound is a 1981 Canadian documentary film about the once-controversial genre of free jazz, directed by Ron Mann.[1] It serves as Mann's feature film directorial debut.[2]
Imagine the Sound marks Mann's feature film directorial debut; he made the film while he was still in his early twenties. The film deals with the once-controversial genre of free jazz.[3] [4] [1]
Shot entirely in Toronto, the film features interviews with and musical and dramatic performances by pianist Cecil Taylor, saxophonist Archie Shepp, trumpeter Bill Dixon, and pianist Paul Bley.[5] Bill Smith features as the interviewer of the film's subjects.[6]
The film has been digitally restored and was released on DVD in 2007.[7] [8]
Critic and film historian Jonathan Rosenbaum has said that Imagine the Sound “may be the best documentary on free jazz that we have.”