Abraham Ravett's film Forgotten Tenor: A tribute to tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray pays tribute to Wardell Gray, considered by many one of the greatest and most unheralded tenor saxophonists in American Black Classical Music. Utilizing a combination of rare archival footage, family photographs, memorabilia, and conversations with family and colleagues, the film attempts to resurrect the presence of this great musician and pay tribute to his accomplishments. Included are conversations with such musicians as Clark Terry, Art Farmer, Teddy Edwards, Buddy DeFranco, Gus Johnson and Jimmy Lewis, among others. (1994) b/w, 16mm

Abraham Ravett's Blues and The Abstract Truth is a non-fiction film that explores the complexities of orchestrating the 1961 Blues and The Abstract Truth recording session led by saxophonist, arranger and composer, Oliver Nelson. Blues and The Abstract Truth is considered by many one of the best albums made during the 1960s and certainly the singular Nelson recording that to this day continues to be played on radio stations throughout the country. Blues and The Abstract Truth featured Oliver Nelson on alto and tenor saxophone plus a lineup of notable musicians. The film pays tribute to Oliver Nelson and his fellow musicians. (2014) color & b/w, 16mm

Joel Saxe's Yiddish Folksingers on Miami Beach (1991), combines ethnography and an impressionistic film style to tell the story of the last folksong gatherings of immigrant Jewish elders on Miami Beach. It raises questions about the transmission of Jewish musical tradition and contemplates the passing of the last generation of Yiddish speakers.

Joel Saxe (Ph.D.) is a Lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts. In western Massachusetts, he has developed media literacy projects in public high schools, with youth in detention, human service workers, and around issues of income inequality. Since 1986, Saxe has been documenting radical history and Yiddish culture, focused on communities in Miami Beach and New York. From this work, he has produced several award-winning documentaries and an installation on Jewish radicalism. He co-produces Bread and Roses Radio, a weekly show on Valley Free Radio, WXOJ, that addresses issues of creating a fair economy and social justice.

This film event is free and open to the public.