Executive Producer:
John W. Comerford is an award winning writer and producer of independent film and media. He is President of PARADIGM STUDIO, a film and television production company in Seattle and serves on the board of The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).  He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he studied under experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage, graduating with dual degrees in Psychology and Film Studies.
 

Co-director /  “Icons Among Us” originator:

Documentary filmmaker and musician Michael Rivoira finds inspiration from the

exceptional artists in his midst. He began working with film and video, formulating plans for a documentary about living jazz artists, talking with bassist Eric Revis (Branford Marsalis’ band) and Christopher “CT” Thomas ( Joshua Redman, Chick Corea, Betty Carter, etc.). He teamed up with Lars Larson and John Comerford to bring Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense to fruition.  Simultaneously, Rivoira began to produce and direct his own projects, including a documentary band Nevermore and a series of shorts for an online global travel company.  The heart and soul of his work, however, remains Icons Among Us tm, and his tireless interaction with the artists is perhaps its greatest asset.  Rivoira has conducted all of the interviews for the series, as well as working as researcher, and artist contact.  By mixing the mediums of music and film, Michael hopes to convey his belief that music is a spiritual experience and the jazz icons among us, if given a chance, can make that experience more tangible and relevant for us all.

Co-director / Editor

Peter J Vogt has been working in films since 1987. He co-produced the film Hype! which premiered at Sundance and won the Seattle Film festival’s award for best feature documentary. Directorial credits include: Nuts&Bolts (Seattle Film Festival special jury award), Blue Moon People (PBS), October (Premiered at New York Film Festival). He will premier 2 films besides Iconsamongus in 2009; High&Outside and Paramount Duty.

Lead editor:

Kristian Hill  worked in film and video since 1994. His emmy nominated editorial work can be seen on NFL Networks, HBO, SITV, as well as music projects too numerous to mention. His first documentary project American Noir in Paris premiered at the Johansson Art Gallery in Detroit in 2002 and is available on line.

Co-director/Cinematographer Lars Larson

Lars Larson is an award-winning director of photography, who uses his exceptional skills to capture images for independent productions and commercial clients. With his first film, With All Deliberate Speed, Larson used the power of visual imagery to develop a passion for cinematography. He was 2nd Unit Director of Photography for the seminal rock documentary HYPE!, covering the Grunge music scene in Seattle, working with artists such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains throughout the 1990’s filming their performances and studio sessions. Larson has also worked for AOL, ABC/Disney, Safeco Insurance, The Seattle Symphony, Wrangler Jeans, Target, and the Washington State Dept. of Health. Larson also feeds his musical passion as a respected drummer who toured extensively in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, playing with acts in New York, Detroit, Honolulu, and Seattle. The sense of timing and rhythm that comes from years behind the kit adds immeasurably to his work behind the camera.

Paradigm Studio partners with Don Q Rum in association with Rums of Puerto Rico to present Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense. The four-part documentary film series examines the world of contemporary jazz looking at today’s brightest talent. Featuring live footage and interviews, the films include many current jazz icons including The Bad Plus, Terence Blanchard, Jason Moran, Ravi Coltrane, the Benevento-Russo Duo, Robert Glasper, Charlie Hunter, Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Medeski Martin and Wood. The films also feature these performers’ legendary predecessors and influences including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis. The Documentary Channel will telecast the Icons Among Us series on four consecutive Mondays at 9 P.M. ET/PT beginning April 20 following its world premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 15.

Executive Producer John W. Comerford fashioned Icons Among Us from seven years of interviews with over 75 living jazz artists in high definition and over 25 hours of live performances recorded on super sixteen millimeter film in popular venues across the U.S. and Europe. Presented in four movements, Icons Among Us premiers with “A Quiet Revolution,” directly challenging perceptions of what jazz is and what it is becoming by examining its innovative new voices as well as their influential forebears. Subsequent movements explore a vast array of topics including the contemporary take on straight ahead and free jazz, the migration of jazz to Europe and jazz’s expansion beyond its own boundaries into other musical genres including hip-hop and rock.

Don Q Rum’s participation and sponsorship of the documentary series can trace its roots back to a chance meeting 25 years ago at a concert. Roberto Serralles, of the family Destilería Serrallés, and John Comerford were introduced by mutual friends who all shared a deep passion for music and the two soon became friends themselves. Serralles, a 6th-generation rum maker, left the family distillery in Puerto Rico and received a doctorate in environmental science at the University of Oregon. Meanwhile, Comerford—a member of the (continued on reverse)

Board of Directors for the Seattle International Film Festival and winner of Italy’s Giffoni Film Festival’s Rear Window Golden Griffon Prize—went on to pursue his love of filmmaking and music professionally. Through the years the two continued to cross paths and eventually Comerford pitched the idea of a Don Q sponsorship for Icons Among Us. Serralles, having returned to the family distillery to initiate an innovative wastewater to energy project, was also helping develop a marketing strategy for Don Q’s penetration into the U.S. marketplace and saw great parallels between the core story within Icons Among Us and the story of Don Q Rum. The Icons project presents a perfect scenario to host the launch of the Don Q brand within the context of an innovative and cutting-edge musical experience.

Founded in 1865 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Destilería Serrallés is a family owned and operated rum distillery that through six generations of master craftsmanship has produced high quality and innovative premium Puerto Rican Rum. Currently, Destilería Serrallés, Inc. is a leading manufacturer responsible for producing over half of all the rum sold in the island. Its flagship brand, Don Q, is considered one of the finest rums produced in the world, a reputation validated by numerous accolades received over the years in some of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions.

Icons Among Us will be telecast on The Documentary Channel® the USA’s first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and the independent documentary filmmaker, providing viewers with round-the-clock opportunities to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres. DOC was founded by Oscar®-nominated and Emmy®-winning documentary filmmaker Tom Neff (CEO) in January 2006. DOC now reaches over 21 million homes nationwide via DISH Network (Channel 197) and several broadcast stations in major television markets, including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.  Telecast details can be found at www.documentarychannel.com.