About this project

Henry Grimes played with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Albert Ayler, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Don Cherry, and Ornette Coleman, each one an acknowledged giant of jazz. Then, at the age of 31, he stopped playing music, and disappeared. In 1984 Cadence magazine reported the vibrant bassist had died, an early end to a brilliant career.

Thing is, Grimes wasn't dead.

Grimes made it out of South Philly by way of music. He studied at Juilliard with famed New York Philharmonic double bassist Fred Zimmerman. But rather than stick with the classical style he had been trained in, Henry sought a different sound. At the age of 22 he played Newport Jazz festival, backing up Thelonious Monk. But it was his meeting with Albert Ayler, that changed the face of Jazz. Ayler was brewing up new sounds, heaped on Ornette Coleman's previous excursions in sound he labeled free jazz. Free Jazz ,as played by Ayler, and Grimes, was so influential, it was the music Coltrane made at the end of his life.

In 1969, at the height of his prowess, having toured the world and and recorded his first session as a leader, Grimes disappeared. For the next 33 years he lived in skid row in Los Angeles, working as a custodian. But this isn't another story of destruction at the hands of addiction. No, it's the redemptive story of a spectacular musician who did not allow himself to become stranded on the rocky hardships life dealt him, the story of a man who never gave up.

Without a bass, Grimes did more than make do, he explored poetry, and metaphysics, and kept on educating himself. And when his second chance came, he clutched it to his chest like a life raft.

Henry's influence is wide spread. Some people don't know him by name, but have heard his work on sessions by jazz luminaries like Sonny Rollins, and Cecil Taylor, and newer explorers like former Tom Waits guitarist Marc Ribot, Marshall Allen of Sun Ra's Arkestra and Dave Douglas, who's played with everyone from John Zorn to Rufus Wainwright.

While much of the work has been done, the film has a way to go. Based on an article by Hank Cherry with photos by Brendan Bannon, we're making this movie in accordance with Henry and his wife. We have shot some live footage and some interviews. We need to film more! We have access to three different jazz archives from the 60's, as well as the muscians and labels he works with today. We'd like to get this movie finished by 2011, and start shopping it to festivals, so time is of the essence.

Henry has recently returned from a European tour with Marc Ribot, and will be touring in September and October, playing jazz festivals in Guelph Ontario, and Los Angeles California. We intend to cover the tour, and both festivals. The money you pledge will let us capture these events, filming Henry live and up close, and also, those who know him best, covering the cost of crew transportation to interviews, equipment rental, and housing while on location. Even if you don't know about his music, his story is dynamite, universal, and hopeful. Help us cast Henry's spell, and spread his music.

Henry Grimes lives and works in New York City.

http://henrygrimes.com