Synopsis

This film tells the story of the members of the first generation of Korean jazz musicians, who began learning and performing jazz through U.S. Army bases after the Korean War in the 1950s. Trumpeter Kang Dae-gwan, whose age and dental health are no longer in his favor, has retired in his quiet rural town when his former bandmates and friends pay him a visit. Meanwhile, there is news that the neighborhood of jazz theorist Lee Pan-geun is being threatened with demolition for a renovation project. In the spirit of bringing the spotlight back to the first generation, a young jazz columnist and his friends decide to make a documentary about them. With the generous participation of many musicians, plans for a tribute concert and album are formed. The film is a true record of that several-month-long project.

Director

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  • Nam Moo-sung
  • Born in Seoul in 1968, Nam Moo-sung is a jazz columnist and music producer. In 1996, he founded Korea’s first jazz magazine, *mmjazz*, and gained attention by publishing the *Jazz It Up!* and *Paint It Rock* series that present the history of jazz and rock through comics. *Bravo! Jazz Life*, a documentary highlighting Korea's first-generation jazz musicians, is his directorial debut.