
and
featuring music films
"Growing Up On Tour: A Family Portrait"
by Anna Gabriel (who will be in attendance)
In 2002, musician Peter Gabriel hit the road for a world tour
following the release of his album Up, and the shows unwittingly
became a family affair -- Gabriel's new wife and baby son joined
him on the road, while one of his daughters signed on as a backup
singer with his band. Gabriel's eldest daughter, artist and
filmmaker Anna Gabriel, tagged along to make a film about her
family's travels and her father's music. Growing Up on Tour:
A Family Portrait was the result, a behind-the-scenes look at
a famous and influential musician (who also happens to be a
husband and father) as he manages his relationship with his
loved ones while performing his music for thousands of fans
each night. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
"Los
Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time"
by Lorenzo DeStefanos
Los
Zafiros were born under the backdrop of the Bay of the Pigs
invasion in the early 1960s, when five young men from Havana
decided to form a band. The result was a grand fiesta of doo-wop
with a spicy Latino flair. This
heartwarming story takes the audience on a nostalgic journey
through the joys and struggles of this unique and amazingly
talented group. There is plenty of magnificent tropical footage
throughout—including calm, white-sand beaches with vibrant,
turquoise waters and colorful, bustling marketplaces. There
are interviews with some of the band’s former crew members
as well as DJs and fans.
Los
Zafiros were impeccably-dressed with perfectly-choreographed
routines. They rode wild on their vocals and presentation, with
minimal instrumental backup. Their exquisite music is passionately-rendered,
with a remarkable collective vocal range. When it’s not
upbeat and danceable, it’s deliciously romantic.
The
narrative of the two surviving band members (Miguel Cancio and
Manuel Galbán) peppered throughout is my favorite thing
about this movie. There is a wonderful series of scenes, in
which they visit the gravesites of Ignacio, Chino, and Kike
and hold small festivals—(a la El Dia De Los Muertos)—eating,
drinking, and singing a capella in celebration of their brothers.
Another memorable scene has Miguel and Manuel riding through
the streets of Havana in a goat-drawn carriage. Los
Zafiros is an enchanting must-see film, rich with music, history
and culture.

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