It's Got To Be Funky - The Life and Music of Horace Silver

It’s Got to Be Funky: The Life and Music of Horace Silver

This documentary film is a comprehensive exploration of Horace Silver, a towering figure in American jazz, celebrated for his pioneering role as a pianist and composer. His work has left an indelible mark on the genre, captivating musicians and listeners globally with his unique fusion of hard bop and soulful rhythms that have significantly shaped jazz's development.

The narrative of the film is presented as a cinematic tone poem, weaving together interviews, narrations, live performances, animation, and most notably, Silver's music, to vividly bring his story to life. It delves into a critical turning point in Silver's career, highlighting his shift in the '50s and '60s towards spiritual themes within his compositions. Through incorporating an eclectic mix of instruments into his ensembles, Silver ventured into new creative territories, raising questions about the influences that guided his spiritual and musical journey.

There is no third party music in the film, solely excerpts from Horace Silver’s extensive discography, which spans over sixty years and includes distinguished recordings primarily on Blue Note Records.

Slated for a 2025 release, it coincides with the unveiling of previously unheard recordings to be released on Blue Note label, and is set for screenings at international jazz festivals and educational institutions, followed by broadcasts on European and Japanese television, and a unique approach to American distribution via social media platforms. A myriad of short video clips from the film will be posted on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, to generate interest in the feature. The complete film will be available on YouTube, free of charge.

Given the diverted attention spans of today’s viewers, the film will also be edited down to a series of podcasts, in essence a fifteen minute weekly series that will run for three months, available on major podcast networks.

Both the social media campaign and the podcasts will be produced in conjunction with Blue Note Records, with their marketing essential to reaching the widest possible audience, worldwide.

Produced by award winning documentary filmmaker Bret Primack in conjunction with the Horace Silver estate, a detailed crowdfunding initiative will secure the necessary financing for the movie, budgeted at $75,000.