entertaining u newspaper: your weekly guide to entertainment

MUSICIAN

BY RICK GRANT

      Anyone contemplating a career in the music business should see this 58 min documentary as a day-in-the-life of modern jazz musician Ken Vandermark as he goes about his day-to-day activities. Shot by Daniel Kraus as a through-the-lens presentation. He followed Ken around from his home studio to his mundane activities of managing his life with his girlfriend and two dogs at home, to his live performances.

      Ken is one a handful of avant garde musicians who can find gigs, but they are few and far between. He travels all over the United States, Canada, and overseas. Kraus de-glamorizes Ken's life as a struggling artist who works hard and desperately tries to manage his time so he can hold his relationship with his girlfriend together The film answers the question: What is it really like to be a musician? Hard and painful! You have to really want it.

      Kraus' shooting style allows the viewer to be the camera, seeing what Kraus sees through his viewfinder. We see Ken practicing and composing his abstract compositions in a roomy studio. We see his painfully developing new ideas. It's a slow process. Ken's bible is his calendar which he consults continuously as a major distraction. Booking gigs, getting to gigs, and making sure his other two band members make it to the gigs is a constant worry. He's not big enough to have people to take care of the hundred and one details of managing his band.

      The nitty gritty of Kraus' commentary exposes the seldom seen dark side of being a musician, that is, being on the road for long periods of time. We see the tears in Ken's eyes as he has to leave his family for months at a time, then back for a couple of weeks, then back out for more touring.

      The constant travel is the hardest part for every professional musician. But the nature of the beast is a gypsy lifestyle. Fitting-in a domestic life with long periods of separation weighs heavily on every musician's mind. It takes a very special person to hang in there. Viewers can feel Ken's emotional pain when he has to hit the road, and then worry about the other hassles of touring.

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Entertaining U Newspaper, eujacksonville.com. Published by N2U Publishing, Inc. 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. Copyright N2U Publishing, Inc. 2006. Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by N2U Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/or omissions, the Publisher's liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to the following address: 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For information concerning classified advertising phone 904-730-3003.