“I’m going right to the praying mantis. That’s the boss, not some human!” – Milford Graves
MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS is the first ever feature-length portrait of renowned percussionist Milford Graves, exploring his kaleidoscopic creativity and relentless curiosity.Graves has performed internationally since 1964, both as a soloist and in ensembles with such legends as Albert Ayler, Giuseppi Logan and Sonny Sharrock. He is a founding pioneer of avant-garde jazz, and he remains one of the most influential living figures in the evolution of the form.
The film draws the viewer through the artist’s lush garden and ornate home, into the martial arts dojo in his backyard and the laboratory in his basement - all of this just blocks from where he grew up in the housing projects of South Jamaica, Queens.Graves tells stories of discovery, struggle and survival, ruminates on the essence of 'swing,' activates electronic stethoscopes in his basement lab to process the sound of his heart, and travels to Japan where he performs at a school for children with autism, igniting the student body into an ecstatic display of spontaneous collective energy.
Oscillating from present to past and weaving intimate glimpses of the artist’s complex cosmology with blistering performances from around the globe, MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS is cinema full of fluidity, polyrhythm and intensity, embodying the essence of Graves’ music itself.
Milford Graves Full Mantis, was selected to have its world premiere in late January 2018 at IFFR International Film Festival Rotterdam, as part of the Perspectives section, a program focusing on Pan Africanism in African Cinema. MGFM is a primary document - the film features never before seen material from Milford's archive, performance footage spanning five decades, unreleased electronic music by Graves, unreleased footage of his first tour in Japan with Butoh legend Min Tanaka, combined with an exclusive and unprecedented look into the brilliant mind of a living master.
Support Milford Graves Full Mantis here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/2087850014/milford- graves-full-mantis-feature- filmOn Kickstarter , you will find the story behind the film, a brief synopsis, film stills, a trailer, the various incentives for donating, and some quotes about the film by documentary film theorist, Pooja Rangan and music critic Matt Krefting. Contributions will support this crucial step in this film's lifecycle, helping take it to festival audiences where it will be seen by critics, programmers, and gatekeepers of the film community.
WIRE magazine
https://www.thewire.co.uk/news/49399/jake-meginsky-directs-milford-graves-documentary
DOWNBEAT magazine
http://downbeat.com/news/detail/documentary-examines-graves-music-philosophy
