Hello, and how are you today? As the weekend approaches, we have a treat for you – Francisco sharing some guitar music while we also enjoy a glimpse of a foreign city in the skies (a nod to the original Star Trek). If so inspired, make some music of your own!
https://youtu.be/AxY1pMa5eHA&w=700&rel=0
Comments Off on Music, From the SkiesGood Monday Morning! Today, we in the U.S. observe Memorial Day, honoring those who have served our country. It is a day full of retail sales, cookouts, and the start of summer (if not necessarily by the calendar). It’s a day of stories and shared memories of days gone by as we prepare for the summer ahead of us. In today’s post, Francisco takes on a quick trip back to New York City in the 1970’s, and shares two of his adventures growing up in that time period. Have a wonderful day!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9KdXun5iwI&w=700&rel=0]
Comments Off on In A New York Minute (or 12)Another Thoughtful Thursday has come to us, bringing with it another quiet guitar gem from Francisco. “An Interlude for Spring” allows room for your own thoughts to expand (I won’t say blossom) as you listen to his improvisation, and watch the trees sway through his guitar.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elh_Ho9Ce_M&w=700&rel=0]
Comments Off on An Interlude for SpringGood Morning! It’s Sunday, and time for more music from Francisco on his guitar. Sit back with your cup of tea or coffee and relax. Visit our Youtube Channel, Conceptualist Films – http://bit.ly/1xErL0U for more music and other videos.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROdwYfiJOSs&w=700&rel=0]
Comments Off on Sounds of A SundayHi everyone! It’s Media Monday on Tuesday (a very early Tuesday), and Spring is here, calendar-wise, even if it doesn’t feel like it. It’s hard to nail us down at CF – there’s always something to shoot, to edit, to compose, no matter which coast we’re on. I’m finding it hard to believe that we’re nearing the end of March already, but it’s true, and our projects continue, most recently on our film on Arturo Sandoval. The city of Los Angeles is declaring today to be “Arturo Sandoval Day”, and it is the perfect time to post our latest episode (6) of The Conceptualist. Arturo is compelling not only for his musical virtuosity, but also for his humanity and belief in a world made better through music. He founded the Arturo Sandoval Institute (ASI) to provide music education, scholarships, and instruments to children who want to study music but are unable to because of financial circumstances, either at home or in their cash-strapped school systems. Francisco and CF produced a beautiful short film about ASI which was shown at a recent event. Enjoy!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euAmriKNSvA&w=700&rel=0]
Comments Off on Arturo Sandoval! The Conceptualist and ASIHello – today’s post will be called Photo Friday, as I had planned to give you a video, but it just wasn’t ready yet. And so, with that said, and as our editor puts the final touches to the Franco Film, with some new music by Francisco, we move along with our film on Arturo Sandoval.
Monday, November 17th, one day after our successful screening of the Franco film, we were very fortunate and privileged to visit the legendary (and I know I don’t exaggerate here) Quincy Jones. What was meant to be a simple, even straightforward interview during the early evening instead became a nearly 4-hr. (if not somewhat over) conversation between Francisco and Quincy Jones. The two hit it off like kindred spirits, their souls connecting instantly, with conversation touching on people and topics of all kinds, from musicians to philosophy to spirituality. The time flew by, and was really only brought to a close by the limitations of technology, i.e., cameras running out of memory and battery trying to capture every moment. It was such a rich and lengthy conversation that I feel quite certain that there is more here to use than just the aspects which relate to Arturo, and look forward to hopefully doing a project of some sort with him. Right now you’ll see just a small collection of photos from the evening. Quincy even had a laptop brought in to show Francisco some video of a young artist he admired, and you’ll see a couple of shots of the two of them looking intently at an nearly invisible (to us) screen.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hello, everyone! What a wet, wild, windy Wednesday night! But it was beautiful on Friday, 3 October when we arrived at Andy Garcia’s office to shoot an interview with the actor/director/producer for our documentary on Arturo Sandoval. Francisco has a gift for asking thoughtful questions and having a conversation with his interviewees, rather than conducting a conventional interview. The two discussed Arturo and musicians like him, leaving their home country in order to have the freedom to play the music they want to. Here are some stills from the shoot. 🙂
It’s always great to be in Boston, but when yet another of our documentary subjects (that’s three now, in the works) comes to play in Copley Square, it’s even better! This year’s 3rd Annual Boston Summer Arts Weekend featured a large group of performance artists who came together for a FREE concert in Copley Square! A huge stage was put up in front of Trinity Church, facing the Boston Public Library, and for two days the Square was filled with people thoroughly enjoying themselves. Even the few hours of rain on Sunday didn’t drive people too far away, and they came back with the sun!
Arturo Sandoval is a jazz trumpeter. A nine-time Grammy Award-winning, 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and legend in the jazz world jazz trumpeter. I don’t think I need say more about this extraordinary man and his talents. Francisco met him in California through a mutual friend, and soon decided a film should be made about his musical virtuosity, influences (including Dizzy Gillespie, a huge influence on Arturo both personally and professionally), and life philosophy. Sandoval came into town in the wee smalls Sunday morning, and blew everyone away with his trumpet and his accompanying sextet.
Here are a few photos taken on the day
From the art and film world of author, director, and musician Francisco Ricardo, Ph.D.
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