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Film Screening | Tenth Decade: Live in Escondido

  • 1925 South Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616 (map)

Tenth Decade: Live in Escondido (2011. 1hr, 24 min) Cinematographer and director Alan Kozlowski recorded this intimate look at the 91-year-old Ravi Shankar performing in October 2011 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Known for his work on documentaries featuring the likes of Jeff Bridges and Jackson Browne as well as feature films such as Travellers and Magicians, Kozlowski offers a uniquely personal perspective on Ravi Shankar. The filmmaker had studied music with Ravi since 1978 and had produced a documentary honoring Ravi called Sangeet Ratna and co-produced with George Harrison a collection of Ravi's work called In Celebration.

The love of the subject is clear in the film, but it is Ravi's raw and powerful performance that leaves the most lasting impression. Though Ravi had curtailed his busy touring schedule, his playing continued to draw intense praise. Songlines magazine said that the master had lost "absolutely nothing in the way of musical virtuosity, technical brilliance and the kind of high-energy passion that belongs in concert performances." East Meets West Music released this important testament to the great artist, who was simply unable to stop making transformative music.