WATERVILLE — Annie Ross was a founding member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, considered by some to be the greatest jazz vocal ensemble of all time. Now, at 82, Ross will be accompanied by her pianist, Tardo Hammer.
She was one of the early practitioners of a singing style known as “vocalese,” which involves the setting of original lyrics to an instrumental jazz solo. Her visit to Maine International Film Festival is part of a special “Celebrating Altman” program honoring the work of one of America’s greatest directors, Robert Altman, with whom Ross worked as an actress in and creator of the soundtrack for his ensemble film masterpiece, “Short Cuts.” She played jazz singer Tess Trainer in the 1993 film.
Festival head programmer Ken Eisen notes, “how delighted we are to present a concert with Annie, a key collaborator of Robert Altman, and a true jazz legend — one of the few people that overused tag is worthy of.”
Ross will perform on the Waterville Opera House stage on Wednesday, July 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are currently on sale at www.miff.org.
The 16th annual Maine International Film Festival will take place in Waterville from today, July 12, through July 21, at Railroad Square Cinema and the newly renovated Waterville Opera House. During the 10 days of the festival, MIFF will feature nearly 100 films, representing the best of American and International independent cinema and spotlighting some of Maine and New England’s most innovative filmmakers.
More than just watching movies, audiences also have opportunities to meet and talk with some of the people behind the movies including directors, producers, writers and actors. Every year MIFF honors members of the independent film industry whose contributions deserve recognition.
Honored guests and visiting filmmakers host panel discussions and Q&A sessions, giving festival audiences an incredible chance to hear about the art of film from those on the front-lines.
The full MIFF schedule is available on the festival’s website, www.miff.org, and tickets for each individual show through noon on the day of the screening. Passes start at $85 and are now available for purchase through the website. The Maine International Film Festival is a project of the Maine Film Center.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
