Julius Eastman

African American composer Julius Eastman’s music and voice take turns. Sparked by colonial and life history. Raw, radical, crystal clear. A multipart, flashy, transnational-collective performance by six artists. An homage.

Ngbanzo’s directorial debut is the first documentary devoted to the life and work of the late composer, pianist, singer, and pioneer of musical minimalism Julius Eastman. Previously unseen interviews and recordings from Eastman’s archive reveal the political dimension of Eastman’s practice, while extensive footage of Devonté Hynes rehearsing and performing a selection of Eastman-penned pieces offers an exhilarating showcase for the work of this still-too-little-known 20th-century master.