Words by Justin Turford
An extraordinary soundtrack to an extraordinary film about an extraordinary man. ‘Lucky Man’ is a heartbreakingly honest and raw documentary about the great Bronx born jazz violinist Billy Bang as he returns to face his wartime demons with music, awe and courage as his guides, perhaps finding some degree of catharsis through improvising with a wide selection of local Vietnamese musicians. In collaboration with IF Music, BBE are releasing a triple vinyl soundtrack that is essentially the live and spontaneous recordings that occurred during the making of the film interspersed with some of Billy’s own thoughts and of his lovely translator (and the warm Vietnamese heart of the film) Quynh Anh Pham. I watched a viewing of it last night and also the attendant Q&A and the story and residual feeling I have is of a deeply emotional journey that everyone involved in the film went through with music as the healing force that bound them.
After a year (66-67) as a ‘tunnel rat’ in the war, he returned like so many GIs to hostility and confusion finding his place in America only through drugs, alcohol and radical politics but instead of a predictable end of death or jail, a $25 violin from a pawn shop literally saved his life and gave him purpose. It also gave us one of the most original jazz players of the age. Initially mentored by free jazz pioneer Leroy Jenkins, Billy became a part of New York’s ‘loft-jazz’ scene and had a long career as a composer, performer and sideman for artists such as Sun Ra, his Jimi Hendrix like ability to make his violin sound both soulful and tortured when needed and subtle and lyrical when a lighter touch was required made him a uniquely expressive performer.
“I’ve never heard music so similar to mine” he says at one point in the film and perhaps he absorbed something deeper and more spiritual from Vietnam than just pain and guilt? He plays like he talks, Bronx loudness with raw disarming honesty mixed with much, at times, chaotic sensitivity. Billy was someone who struggled with substance abuse since returning from the war and as one of the film’s directors Markus Hansen admitted during the Q&A, Billy was a challenge to ‘manage’ during the film’s creation due to this ongoing concern. As the music industry has belatedly acknowledged mental health as a serious issue it was revealing to see how disturbed Billy was during the filming, always charming, always trying but we could see his fears clearly. The fear of his memories as he returned to the worst period of his life, the fear of not being accepted by the people who he once fought and perhaps the fear that his damaged soul may never be healed. Self forgiveness and forgiveness and understanding through conversation and musical interaction appeared to me, however, to be the result of his many meetings during the film and the soundtrack captures some of these incredibly moving moments. And unique moments they are as these are all field recordings that were never overdubbed nor recreated (The Carvery has done a masterful clean up though) as he travelled the length of the country in search of musical and personal redemption.
The recordings on the record (and film) are unlike anything I’ve heard before to be honest. ‘Mystery Of The Mekong’ is a one-off rehearsal piece with the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra co-written by Billy and the conductor and contains a beautifully brooding repetitive chord sequence by the orchestra as the story arc is narrated by Billy’s raw lead violin, which to me plays the many characters along the Mekong he encountered. The Banhar Gong Group of Kuntum (above) from the rural Kon Tum province perform one of their traditional pieces, while Billy reaches for the stars. The Phu Dong Family Band (a collective made up of 25 members of leader Duc Dau’s family) appears on ‘New Saigon Phunk’ and ‘Song for Don Cherry’. Duc Dau is also a collector of ancient traditional instruments, and he plays an ancient stone Lithophone called a Dan Da with Billy and the performance is the most perfect example of improvisational skill between two masters from different worlds. Their elation and excitement is palpable as they push and drive each other to new heights and is a privilege to behold.
The Q&A conversations with IF Music’s Jean-Claude, artist film maker Markus Hansen and the legendary jazz percussionist (and lifelong friend of Billy Bang) Kahil El’Zabar exposed and reinforced Billy’s ‘appetite’ for life and his huge personality which is more than apparent in the film and recordings. Black improvisational music meet traditional Vietnamese and classical styles and is a remarkable document of a never-to-be-repeated man and moment in time. 10/10.
RELEASED ON BBE RECORDS - MAY 14th 2021
PRE-ORDER HERE! https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/billy-bang-lucky-man
WATCH THE FILM HERE! https://www.billybang-luckyman.com/