The other night Mister and I attended a film premiere. Not all such affairs are star-studded or paparazzi-heavy. Some are quiet, with modest attendance. This was one of those premieres, and the film was flippin’ awesome.
“Experience Montreux” is a 3D documentary and its world premiere was part of the “3D Film Festival” in downtown Los Angeles. Shot over 10 days at 2010’s Montreux Jazz Festival at Lake Geneva’s edge in Switzerland, the film features musical performances and interviews galore. The festival’s founder, Claude Nobs, was honored before the premiere and is featured prominently in the documentary. His stories alone could make up an entire documentary, and the scenes featuring Mr. Nobs were some of my favorites. For example, he told of an early ’70’s festival where Frank Zappa was playing onstage. Apparently, a kid in the audience set off a flare – inside the building – and the structure went up in flames. The band Deep Purple was supposed to record an album in that building, and after it burned, Mr. Nobs found an abandoned hotel for them to work in. Deep Purple did indeed record their album, and they even wrote a song for Claude Nobs. They recorded it as a joke, with no intention of ever releasing it. They gave Mr. Nobs a cassette of the song and, after giving it a listen, he suggested they include it on their record. That song, written about the destructive fire that took place during the festival, was “Smoke on the Water.” The rest, as they say, is history.
I don’t know if you’ll get a chance to see “Experience Montreux” or not. But if you do, give it a shot. The music is awesome and I can almost bet you’ll be wanting to attend next year’s Montreux Jazz Festival.
As for me, I’d love to go to Switzerland in July of 20 and 13. Hmm. I wonder how I can make that happen…