The Woo of Celluloid

So I am an avowed adherent to funk in so many of its joyous and disparate forms, all of which have been practiced by musical powerhouse Bernie Worrell. Bernie is in a rare class; a true prodigy with staggering chops who sees no categorical bounds to where he can play. As a keyboardist, he composed his own piano concerto by the age of eight, and has perfect pitch. He is just as adept at ripping and tearing through Ravel as he is pushing crushing loads of funk with Parliament-Funkadelic. While he has continued to get steady work as a studio player and sideman (most notably with the Talking Heads, Keith Richards, BlackJack Johnson, and various Bill Laswell and Les Claypool projects), he has essentially been ignored as a solo artist and suffered the indignity of having all of his seminal works earning him no royalties due to shady business practices.

Well, someone decided his rather colorful personality and even moe colorful history in music would make for a good movie, as it became so. Phil DiFiore has made Stranger: Bernie Worrell On Earth, a documentary that has already earned a few accolades and is due for wider exposure, if the trailer is any indication. Featuring performance and narrative footage as well as a panoply of interviews with various artists that work or have worked with Bernie.* The film looks to be an enlightening and fun watch. Go take a peek at the trailer at least. Better yet, go see a Bernie show and buy a few dozen album he appears on.

* Includes footage Bill Laswell, Les Claypool, Mos Def, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish, Dr. Know, George CLinton, Bootsy Collins, Prince Paul, Warren Haynes, David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, & Chris Frantz.