ry cooder group '88 in santa cruz, Les Blank (U.S., 1988): Always for Pleasure: The Films of Les Blank

Film - Series | July 29 | 7 p.m. |  PFA Theater

Sponsor: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

n Person/Les Blank


Slide-guitar great and world music alchemist Ry Cooder handpicked an orchestra of virtuoso musicians for a brief tour, including accordionist Flaco Jiménez, eccentric pianist Van Dyke Parks, drummer Jim Keltner, and singers Bobby King and Terry Evans. One stop was The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, where Les Blank joined them to film a night of freewheeling music, ranging from gospel and blues to rock and folk. The resulting concert film is seen tonight in a rare screening.

• (85 mins, Color, 16mm, Flower Films)

Preceded by:

Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (Les Blank, U.S., 1995). The great Afro-Cuban drummer and percussionist is featured in riveting performances, including at Cesar’s Latin Palace in San Francisco. Aguabella, born in Cuba where he studied the batá, a ceremonial drum, bridged traditional Cuban rhythms with jazz, salsa, and rock. (35 mins, Color, 16mm, From Flower Films)

Total running time: 120 mins

Tickets required: $5.50 BAM/PFA members and UCB students,  $9.50 Adults (18-64),  $6.50 UC Berkeley faculty and staff, non-UC Berkeley students, senior citizens (65 & over), disabled persons, and youth (17 & under)

Event Contact: bampfa@berkeley.edu, 510-642-0808