Immortal: The Musical Crusade of Reggie Workman

A Documentary Film in the Making

The Story

What happens when what we leave behind meets what lies ahead? In this intimate documentary, legendary bassist and American Jazz Master Reggie Workman finds himself at a crossroads. In a series of profound conversations with his youngest daughter, Ayana, he confronts the urgent questions facing America’s greatest cultural gift to the world: Is the art of jazz dying? And why is it not placed on the pedestal it deserves?

Through their dialogue, live performances, and previously unseen footage, Immortal explores the extraordinary and enduring legacy of a culture-bearer who disagrees that his art form is fading away—he knows it is simply transforming.

The Conversation

At its heart, this film is about family. It’s about a father whose dedication to his music took him away from his daughter, and a daughter who stepped away from that music to find herself. Now, they are finally learning to see each other for who they have become, exploring what made a man into a musical giant and what choices we all make to get where we are.

Featuring Interviews With

Archie Shepp, Jason Moran, Nasheet Waits, Robert Glasper, Don Moye, Lakecia Benjamin, Ravi Coltrane, James Browne, Cornel West, Jen Shyu, Marilyn Crispell, and many more.

Exploring Reggie Workman’s “Sound Philosophy”

What complex and uncertain path brings a people steps toward freedom after slavery?
Music is bound to culture, behavior, and our bodies. To unbind it and find your own sound without ignoring the past is the task of a lifetime.
Are we, as humans, limited? If our music is limited, what causes that?
We have the option to “freeze in time” or create the future of “irresistible sound.”

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