'Tis Autumn - The Search for Jackie Paris

Watch 'Tis Autumn - The Search for Jackie Paris

"The greatest voice you never heard"
  • 2008
  • 1 hr 40 min
  • 7.1  (77)
  • 73

In the 1950s, singer Jackie Paris was a rising star in the jazz music world. He was known for his powerful voice and his ability to scat with the best of them. However, as the years went on, Paris seemed to fall out of favor with the jazz community. He struggled with addiction and personal demons, and his career suffered as a result.

Fast forward to 2006, and filmmaker Raymond De Felitta sets out to find out what happened to Jackie Paris. The resulting documentary, 'Tis Autumn - The Search for Jackie Paris, is a fascinating look at the life and career of this troubled artist.

The film features interviews with many of Paris's friends and colleagues, as well as archival footage of the man himself. We learn about his early life in New York City, where he grew up with a musical family and honed his craft in the jazz clubs of Harlem. We see footage of Paris performing in his prime, and it's clear why he was once considered one of the best jazz singers in the world.

However, as the film progresses, we start to get a sense of the darker side of Paris's story. We hear about his struggles with addiction, and his tendency to self-sabotage when things were going well. We see footage of him performing in later years, and it's clear that his voice had lost some of its power and range. Still, there's something compelling about the way he sings, and it's clear why his fans remained loyal to him even in his darkest moments.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the way it explores the relationship between Paris's personal life and his music. We hear from his wife and children, who talk about the toll that his addiction took on their family. We also hear from musicians who worked with him, who describe what it was like to be around him when he was struggling. But through it all, it's clear that Paris's music was always there for him, even when everything else seemed to be falling apart.

The film also touches on the larger cultural context in which Paris lived and worked. We hear about the rise of rock and roll and the decline of jazz in popular culture. We see Paris struggling to adapt to changing times, and we get a sense of the frustration he must have felt as he watched his peers achieve greater success while he struggled to stay afloat.

Throughout the film, we're treated to some incredible performances by Paris. Even in his later years, when his voice wasn't what it used to be, there's a raw emotion in his singing that's hard to ignore. We see him performing in small clubs and at festivals, and it's clear that he never lost his love for jazz music.

'Tis Autumn - The Search for Jackie Paris is a touching tribute to a talented but troubled artist. It's a film that explores the highs and lows of a career in music, and the toll that addiction and personal demons can take on a person's life. But it's also a film that celebrates the power of art and the way that music can touch our souls in ways that nothing else can.

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Description
  • Release Date
    2008
  • Runtime
    1 hr 40 min
  • IMDB Rating
    7.1  (77)
  • Metascore
    73