Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

The is the trailer for the documentary film Billy Bang: Long Over Due on legend jazz violinist Billy Bang, directed and written by award winning director Oscar Sanders. This film will be released sometime this year. It will remind you why this man, who passed away in April last year, was so revered by musicians and the jazz audience.

This film documents the music and the working style of Billy Bang, an internationally known, critically acclaimed violinist. Also interviews with musicians and personalities that know Billy Bang first hand and reveal what makes this extremely talented, award winning recording artist tick. Production began in November of 2010 in Patterson, New Jersey at the Patterson Public Library.

Interviews with  following musicians: Newman Taylor Baker, Hilliard Green and Andrew Bemkey, who were all members of his last band, the singer LJ Jenkins from Billy’s hip hop band Billy Bang Forbidden Planet, and Ahmed Abdullah who recorded with Billy and also played frequently with throughout the years. Further interviews with bassists Todd Nicholson, who was Billy Bang’s former bassist,  John Lindberg and William Parker. Former SunRa violinist Fiidla and trombonist/composer Craig Harris are very informative and passionate about their relationship with Billy Bang. Both speak about their musical and personal friendship with “the Bang”.

Oscar Sanders about this movie

Billy asked me to make this documentary, which is that he wanted this film to be like no other documentary. Bang wanted this film to be about how musicians work together from a mental and skill aspect, as one to make musical performances unique to the audiences who love the music and show their love and respect everytime they show up at concerts or buy cd’s or collect albums.

More about The Bang