Jack DeJohnette: Jack Johnson: Soundtrack to a Legend

Auckland Exclusive. One Night Only.

Jazz legend Jack DeJohnette performs his musical tribute to the great Miles Davis in this reinterpretation of the 1971 soundtrack created for William Cayton’s irreverent film Tribute to a Legend: Jack Johnson.

“I’ve been everywhere, seen everything, done everything but most of all I like doing what I do in front of a crowd.

Champagne corks, fine clothes and lots of
spending, the smile of a pretty woman, I like
that and I like it now.

I’m Jack Johnson, heavyweight champion of the
world. I’m black.”
Jack Johnson from Tribute to a Legend: Jack Johnson

In 1971 when Miles Davis laid down his landmark soundtrack for William Cayton’s irreverent film Tribute to a Legend: Jack Johnson, the jazz icon was in good company. Among luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Michael Henderson and Teo Macero was the lively and inventive percussionist Jack DeJohnette.

Four decades after he contributed to the original recordings, master jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette revisits the film, mixing live sounds with Davis’ music as the wonderfully intriguing film plays on the silver screen behind him. Rather than reproducing Davis’ legendary musical score, DeJohnette uses it as a platform for an inspired revision, deepening the rock and funk inflections already so prominent in Davis’ soundtrack. Special guests providing a killer punch combo of funk-drenched sound in this Teo Macero production include Byron Wallen (trumpet), Jason Yarde (saxophones), Dave Fiuczynski (guitar) and Jerome Harris (bass).

“it's an exercise in respect. Not just a tribute to Jack Johnson but also a celebration of the music and enduring influence of the Dark Magus himself, Miles Davis. In short: a knockout”
- All About Jazz (USA)