Escalator Over The Hill – A Film By Steve Gebhardt
To activate the recordings, please contact us at info@monheim-triennale.de.
Liner notes:
When it was released in 1971, Carla Bley's monumental jazz opera with lyrics by poet, Paul Haines, was hailed as a masterpiece. It was voted jazz album of the year 1972 by a Melody Maker reader's poll and won the 1973 French Oscar du meilleur disque de jazz moderne.
This complex and ambitious film took almost 30 years to produce and final made its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in August 1999. These seminal live performances were captured by filmmaker Steve Gebhardt in 1970-71, during Escalator's original recording sessions.
Many of the performers at the time were living legends of their musical form and included Jack Bruce (a year after Cream disbanded); trumpeter, Don Cherry; Don Preston (Mothers Of Invention) as well as Gato Barbieri, Charlie Haden, Sheila Jordan, John McLaughlin, Howard Johnson, Jeanne Lee, Viva (a Warhol superstar) and guitarist, Sam Brown.
Gebhardt had complete control over what and how he filmed these sessions and was able to place lights and camera in such a manner as to realize the best visuals. This 83 min film will give music lovers of all genres an illuminating glimpse into the creative process at work. This is an unprecedented opportunity to see how this complex recording was assembled.
Steve Gebhardt Biography:
Steve Gebhardt was born (January 6, 1937) and educated in Cincinnati. His parents were both painters trained at the Art Academy and later in Paris. Steve studied Architecture. He also received a Masters degree in Community Planning with a major in Environmental Design. While he was in college an interest in film became a passion and he began making 16mm experimental films. He also founded the U.C. Film Society in 1961, which later developed the Spring Arts Festival and brought dozens of film artists to Cincinnati, sponsored films and workshops but brought music and dance programs as well. After completing his studies at the University of Cincinnati he taught film in the U.C. Graduate School and Antioch College also making films commercially until he moved to New York City to manage the newly created Anthology Film Archives (located in The Public Theater) and to pursue a career in filmmaking.
Within weeks of moving to New York City he was asked to make a film of the recording sessions for the jazz opera, Escalator Over the Hill by composer Carla Bley and poet Paul Haines.
He immediately began a 3-year relationship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono where he made their films and ran their production company, Joko Films. During that time he was commissioned by ABC Network to direct the One to One Concert at Madison Square Garden, which was to become John Lennon's last public live performance.
(Excerpt from the booklet of the DVD, released and self-distributed by Steve Gebhardt in 2005)
Steve Gebhardt died on October 15, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Obituary in the New York Times
Film credits:
A Chronotransduction by
Adaptation and Music
Carla Bley
Words
Paul Haines
Production and Coordination
Michael Mantler
for Jazz Composers Orchestra Association
a Film by
Steve Gebhardt
------------------------------------
Edited by
Steve Gebhardt
Avid Editor
Tom Hayes
Offline editor
Neil Sharrow
Director of Photography
Steve Gebhardt
Additional Camera
Bob Fries
Dick Ward
Jeffrey Hewitt
Mike Mantler
Recording
November, 1970 - June, 1971
RCA Recording Studios, New York
Engineer, Ray Hall
March, 1971
Empirical Sound, at the Filmmakers Cinematheque
Engineer, Dave Jones
June, 1971
Butterfly Mobile Sound Van, at the Public Theater
Engineers: Karl Sjodahl, Bob Fries,
Nelson Weber, Wes Wickemeyer
Film Laboratory
WRS Labs, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Film Transfer to Video
Post Production Services, Cincinnati, Ohio
Colorist Kevin Marck
...This Is Here
Speaker
VIVA
Phantom Music
MICHAEL MANTLER ring modulated piano, prepared piano
CARLA BLEY organs
DON PRESTON moog synthesizer
voice
CARLA BLEY
Multiple Public Members II
Howard Johnson
Carla Bley
Orchestra
Michael Mantler trumpet
Enrico Rava trumpet
Bob Carlisle french horn
Sharon Freeman french horn
Sam Burtis trombone
Jimmy Knepper trombone
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Don Preston moog synthesizer
Carla Bley & Michael Mantler piano
Flies, Bullfrogs, and Mindsweepers
Michael Mantler
Carla Bley
Don Preston
Like Animals
Orchestra
Roswell Rudd trombone
Michael Mantler trumpet
Sharon Freeman french horn
Sam Burtis trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
Escalator Over The Hill
Cecil Clark
Tod Papageorge
Roomer
Bob Stewart
Opera Singer
Rosalind Hupp
Ancient Roomer
Karen Mantler
Men
Jack Jeffers
Howard Johnson
Timothy Marquand
Tod Papageorge
Bob Stewart
Hotel People
Jane Blackstone
Sharon Freeman
Rosalind Hupp
Jack Jeffers
Howard Johnson
Sheila Jordan
Timothy Marquand
Nancy Newton
Tod Papageorge
Phyllis Schneider
Bob Stewart
Pat Stewart
Orchestra
Sam Burtis trombone
Jimmy Knepper trombone
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
Carla Bley piano
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
Hotel Lobby Band
PERRY ROBINSON clarinet
NANCY NEWTON viola
Michael Mantler trumpet
Bob Carlisle french horn
Sharon Freeman french horn
Sam Burtis trombone
Jimmy Knepper trombone
Roswell Rudd trombone
Original Amateur Hotel Band
Michael Snow trumpet
Michael Mantler valve trombone
Howard Johnson tuba
Perry Robinson clarinet
Peggy Imig tenor sax
Nancy Newton viola
Richard Youngstein bass
Carla Bley piano
Paul Motian drums
Stay Awake
Loudspeaker
ROSWELL RUDD
Narration
VIVA
Ginger and David
Used Woman
SHEILA JORDAN
Roomer
BOB STEWART
Cecil Clark
TOD PAPAGEORGE
Nurse
JANE BLACKSTONE
Leader
CARLA BLEY
Orchestra
GATO BARBIERI tenor sax
Michael Mantler trumpet
Sharon Freeman french horn
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
Businessmen
Jack I & II
JACK BRUCE
Jack's Traveling Band
JOHN McLAUGHLIN electric guitar
CARLA BLEY organ
JACK BRUCE electric bass
PAUL MOTIAN drums
Detective Writer Daughter
Jack
JACK BRUCE
Orchestra
JOHN McLAUGHLIN electric guitar
Michael Mantler trumpet
Sharon Freeman french horn
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Jimmy Lyons alto sax
Gato Barbieri tenor sax
Chris Woods baritone sax
Carla Bley piano
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
Small Town Agonist
David
PAUL JONES
Doctor
DON PRESTON
Orchestra
GATO BARBIERI tenor sax
PAUL MOTIAN drums
CARLA BLEY piano
Michael Mantler trumpet
Enrico Rava trumpet
Bob Carlisle french horn
Sharon Freeman french horn
Sam Burtis trombone
Jimmy Knepper trombone
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Over Her Head
Leader
CARLA BLEY
Men
Howard Johnson
Sam Burtis
Timothy Marquand
Tod Papageorge
Bob Stewart
Women
Jane Blackstone
Sharon Freeman
Rosalind Hupp
Sheila Jordan
Nancy Newton
Pat Stewart
Yodeling Ventriloquist
HOWARD JOHNSON
Original Amateur Hotel Band
Michael Snow trumpet
Michael Mantler valve trombone
Howard Johnson tuba
Perry Robinson clarinet
Peggy Imig tenor sax
Nancy Newton viola
Richard Youngstein bass
Carla Bley piano
Paul Motian drums
Rawalpindi Blues
Jack
JACK BRUCE
Jack's Traveling Band
JOHN McLAUGHLIN electric guitar
CARLA BLEY piano, organ
JACK BRUCE electric bass
PAUL MOTIAN drums
Desert Band
DON CHERRY trumpet, ceramic flute, percussion
LEROY JENKINS violin
CALO SCOTT cello
RON McCLURE acoustic bass
SAM BROWN acoustic guitar
SOUREN BARONIAN clarinet
CARLA BLEY organ
PAUL MOTIAN percussion
Sand Shepherd
DON CHERRY
End of Rawalpindi
Ginger II
JEANNE LEE
Jack I & II
JACK BRUCE
His Friends
STEVE FERGUSON
Jack's Traveling Band
JOHN McLAUGHLIN electric guitar
CARLA BLEY organ
JACK BRUCE electric bass
PAUL MOTIAN drums
Desert Band
DON CHERRY trumpet
LEROY JENKINS violin
CALO SCOTT cello
RON McCLURE acoustic bass
SAM BROWN acoustic guitar
SOUREN BARONIAN clarinet
CARLA BLEY organ
PAUL MOTIAN dumbec
End of Animals
Doctor
DON PRESTON
Hotel People
Jane Blackstone
Sharon Freeman
Rosalind Hupp
Jack Jeffers
Howard Johnson
Sheila Jordan
Timothy Marquand
Nancy Newton
Tod Papageorge
Bob Stewart
Pat Stewart
Orchestra
Michael Mantler trumpet
Sharon Freeman french horn
Sam Burtis trombone
Roswell Rudd trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
...And It's Again
Loudspeaker
ROSWELL RUDD
Viva
VIVA
Orchestra
ROSWELL RUDD trombone
SHARON FREEMAN french horn
Michael Mantler trumpet
Sam Burtis trombone
Jack Jeffers bass trombone
John Buckingham tuba
Charlie Haden bass
Paul Motian drums
Phantom Music
MICHAEL MANTLER ring modulated piano, prepared piano
CARLA BLEY organs
Voice I & II
CARLA BLEY
Multiple Public Members III
CARLA BLEY
Jack I&II
JACK BRUCE
Desert Women
CARLA BLEY
Mutant I&II
CARLA BLEY
Viva
VIVA
Multiple Public Members
CARLA BLEY
Jane Blackstone
Jonathan Cott
Sharon Freeman
Steve Gebhardt
Tyrus Gerlach
Eileen Hale
Rosalind Hupp
Jack Jeffers
Howard Johnson
Sheila Jordan
Michael Mantler
Timothy Marquand
Nancy Newton
Tod Papageorge
Bob Stewart
Pat Stewart
Viva
Major Funding for this production provided by
The City of Cincinnati
The Ohio Arts Council
copyright - 1999
Steve Gebhardt & Carla Bley