Synopsis

Anyone who loves jazz is likely to recall the haunting image of Chet Baker—so still it feels as if the sound of his trumpet might drift out from the photo at any moment. It’s one of the many iconic portraits taken by photographer William Claxton, who passed away in 2006. Over a career spanning five decades, from the early 1950s until his death, Claxton captured timeless moments in jazz, including album covers and personal portraits. This documentary features not only jazz legends like Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, and Diana Krall, but also celebrities like actor Steve McQueen and his wife, as well as supermodel Peggy Moffitt. Like a jazz improvisation, the film unfolds as a series of encounters—offering behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Claxton’s sessions, his rise to fame, and intimate footage of Claxton at work behind the lens. For anyone with a passion for photography or jazz, this documentary is not to be missed. Directed by Julian Benedikt, whose other acclaimed documentary Blue Note – A Story of Modern Jazz is also being screened in the same section of JIMFF.

Director

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  • Julian Benedikt
  • Originally an actor, Julian Benedikt was captivated by the music of drummer Chico Hamilton, leading him to create the 1994 documentary Chico Hamilton – Dancing to a Different Drummer. He gained international recognition with his next film, Blue Note – A Story of Modern Jazz (1997), which was nominated for a Grammy Award and won a Peabody Award. He continued his exploration of jazz through documentaries like Jazz Seen: The Life and Times of William Claxton (2001), and Play Your Own Thing – A Story of European Jazz (2006).