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Chicken Wings

Jazz legend Betty Bryant performs her iconic "Chicken Wings" with Robert Kyle on harmonica and foot stomps.

  • Judd Pillot
    Director
  • Judd Pillot
    Producer
  • Robert Kyle
    Producer
  • Betty Bryant
    Performers
    Betty Bryant: A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Betty Bryant is a revered pianist/singer who brings a solid piano technique, a light, swinging touch and a skilled vocal approach to her music. Whether she is playing the blues on “He May Be Your Man (But He Comes To See Me Sometime)”, or delivering obscure cabaret gems like Mort Lindsey’s humorous “Scratch”, or romping through serious jazz compositions like Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare”, Betty always connects with the material and with her audience. Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by her fellow musicians, Betty’s career started in her hometown of Kansas City, where she was mentored by the great Jay McShann. She moved to the west coast in 1955, where she immediately got an engagement at Beverly Hill’s famed “Ye Little Club”. This was the beginning of mostly solo appearances in Los Angeles. Her reputation grew, and she quickly became a popular attraction in the many little nightspots that used to dot the beach towns from Santa Monica to Laguna. In 1987 “Betty Bryant Day” was declared in Kansas City, and she was awarded the keys to the city. A famous photograph of Betty with Jay McShann hangs in the lobby of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. Betty has performed internationally in the Middle East and Brazil, and for many years was a popular regular attraction at the upscale Tableaux Lounge in Tokyo, Japan. She had a long term engagement at celebrity chef Susan Feniger’s exciting new restaurant “Street” in Hollywood in 2009, and in 2012 she was a featured performer at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival in Boquete, Panama. The “Betty Bryant Birthday Bash” is a hugely popular annual event in Hollywood, presented at the famed “Catalina Jazz Club”. Betty has released 14 critically acclaimed CDs, including 2009’s “No Regrets”, which got airplay on over 100 jazz stations nationwide. Peter Solomon, of station WCVE – FM in Richmond, Virginia wrote, “This is a sweet little album. I was struck by her laid-back phrasing. Her piano style sounds something like Basie. This woman has soul.” Selections from the album were programmed onto the inflight entertainment channels of seven major airlines worldwide. Christopher Louden, writing in JazzTimes Magazine, called Betty’s CD “Together” (2011) a “superlative testament to the depth and breadth of her showmanship.” Betty’s 2013 release “iteration +” charted on the JazzWeek National charts. Peter Kuller, from Radio Adelaide, Australia said, “Betty Bryant is absolutely amazing and deserves worldwide recognition. A jazz pianist who also sings or a jazz singer who also plays piano, whatever you prefer she does both with great distinction!” Her 2018 release "Project 88" is her most heard record to date, and spent six months on the JazzWeek charts topping out at #22. Her original song "Catfish Man" was a bonafide jazz hit, bringing her new fans worldwide. She has just released her 14th recording “Lotta Livin” to rave reviews.
  • Robert Kyle
    Performers
    Robert Kyle Bio Saxophonist/Flutist/Composer Robert Kyle has become known for his unique warm sound, melodic style, and his ability to harmoniously cross musical borders. His lyricism and passion are evident in whatever situation he finds himself, and he is fluid in many styles including Jazz, Blues, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, R & B and Classical. His performance & recording credits include work with Gino Vannelli, Cee Lo Green, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis, Jason Mraz, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russell, Lou Rawls, Guinga, Chico Pinheiro, Seu Jorge, Googoosh, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell, Blake Shelton, Babyface, Della Reese, Francisco Aguabella, Pete Escovedo, Jessica Simpson, Al McKibbon, Billy Mitchell, Roy “Guitar” Gaines and many others. He's served as musical director for blues diva Linda Hopkins, Jazz Bliss Brazil & salsa artists Leslie Paula & Miguel Gutierrez. He's made over 50 tours to Europe and has performed at many of the biggest Jazz festivals, theaters and clubs in the world. He has played for the Academy awards, the Emmy awards, the Voice, The BET awards and many others. In 2018 Robert did MANY concerts & festival throughout the spring and summer as well many club dates & private events. He also produced the new cd "Project 88" for the great pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant slated for an early November release. He also recorded all of the sax, flute as well as arranged all of the horn section tracks for New Zealand based "Groove Express" latest release "Amsterdaam," which reached #1 on the Billboard's "Contemporary Jazz" charts and has been nominated in six categories for the 61st Grammy awards, including a "Best Improvised Jazz solo" nomination for Robert. In September, Robert was the featured artist at the prestigious Moss Theater for the concert "Bossa Nova 60th Anniversary Concert" also celebrating Sergio Mielenczenkos' 40th anniversary as host of "The Brazilian hour" radio show. In addition to being a very busy and in demand live & session musician, Robert performs regularly in the LA area with along list of groups, including the Tony Guerrero Quintet, Betty Bryant, Billy Mitchell, Heartbeat Brazil, Excursion, also leads several of his own groups and has released ten CD’s on his own “Dark Delishious Music” label available through his website www.robertkyle.com. His quartet plays a variety of instrumental music with a focus on Latin & Brazilian Jazz, and is regularly featured at clubs and festivals all over. His Brazilian trio plays a mix of classic as well as contemporary Samba, Bossa Nova & Brazilian Jazz, mixing vocal and instrumental music. Besides producing his own projects, Robert has acted as producer on numerous recordings, including “Es Cosa Latina” for salsa artist Leslie Paula, the debut CD for salsa artist Miguel Gutierrez, “Oye mi Ritmo-Oye Mi Voz,” Carol Bach-y-Rita's debut CD “What Love Is,” vocalist Rose Mallet’s “Building Dreams.” He has produced and/or co-produced the last 4 projects from legendary Kansas City pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant. He was co-producer & arranger on the debut CD from “Brazliando” and on the Hi-Fi Quintet’s CD “This is the Hi-FI Quintet.” Robert’s songs have been recorded by Alessa, Betty Bryant, Bobby Zee, Zoe, Leslie Paula, Miguel Gutierrez, Larry Williams & Anna Estrada. His music has also been featured on television & in movies and commercials internationally. His songs can also be found on numerous American and European Jazz compilations. Robert’s playing is featured on the Hal Leonard instructional books, CD’s and DVD’s “Brazilian styles for drum set” and “Afro-Cuban styles for drum set” by Maria Martinez, for which he also composed and arranged all the music. He is a regularly invited to perform, teach and lecture for the “Ethnic Styles” class at The L.A. Music Academy. He has studied privately with Phil Sobel, Bill Green, Plas Johnson, Lanny Morgan, and Danilo Lozano & Herb Geller. His love of drums and rhythms caused him to become increasingly interested in Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. He has studied African drumming with Nigerian Master Drummer Francis Awe, and Brazilian drums and hand percussion with Maria Martinez, Cassio Duarte, Edson Gianesi, Carlinhos “Pandeiro” Deouro, Gello and Chalo Eduardo. In 2002, Robert’s love of Cuban music led him to Cuba to study traditional “Charanga” style flute at The Havana Conservatory with the great “Lele” (from Los Van Van) and the legendary Richard Egues (from Orchestra Aragon.) He has studied composition with Mauro Bruno and is a student of Lyle “Spud” Murphy’s Equal Interval System of composition & arranging. In 2010 he traveled to Brazil to study with the Brazilian masters Hermeto Pascoal, Jovino Santos Neto and Alessandro Penezzi. He lives in Altadena, a small suburb of Los Angeles, and when he’s not touring, he keeps a full performance schedule and also teaches out of his home. He is an avid Yoga practitioner and reader of books.
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 25, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Judd Pillot

~ Judd Pillot ~

Writer, producer, director, Judd Pillot, has over thirty five years’ experience in prime-time TV and film. An Emmy winner, Golden Globe Nominee, and recipient of the prestigious Humanitas Award, Judd has run such hit shows as “COACH”, “Mad About You,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Eight Simple Rules,” “According to Jim,” "Something So Right," and many others. He was also the Executive Producer on the "COACH" reboot for NBC/Universal.
Judd's projects are not limited to comedy. He wrote and produced the USA Network one-hour drama, "Operating Instructions," and wrote the action thrillers, "Us/Them," and “No Americans Will Be Harmed.” Judd's also worked in feature films, having written several screenplays including "Crazy on the Outside," starring and directed by Tim Allen, co-starring Ray Liotta, Sigourney Weaver, Kelsey Grammer and Julie Bowen. He also provided production rewrites on “The Bounty Hunter” starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler.
Having published several short stories and essays, Judd’s latest piece, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” will appear in the much anticipated book, “One Beatle’s Song.” He’s also done extensive teaching, consulting, and guest lecturing, and had the honor of being invited to Singapore's Ngee Ann Polytechnic to present a three-day writing and show running seminar. He also travelled to Moscow, consulting for Sony Pictures International and producing "Voronins", the Russian version of the wildly successful U.S. sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond." This project garnered Judd a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Judd is currently writing and developing projects for broadcast, streaming, and cable as well as features. His romantic comedy, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” has been optioned by MGM, and, his time-travel comedy, "Pizza & Past," was adapted for Sony Pictures International as “Tequila Reposado,” and had its premiere on Amazon Prime. He recently directed “Chicken Wings”, a music video featuring jazz legend, Betty Bryant.
Additional Guest Lecture / Seminars:
UCLA (Adjunct Instructor, ongoing), USC, Boston University, Warner Brothers Writing Workshop, Art Center of Pasadena, Inner City Filmmakers LA, Backstage Tours Acting Workshop, NYU's Tisch School of Film, Long Island University’s MFA Writers Studio

Other Awards / Nominations:

Cable ACE Award: Best Documentary, “How to Raise a Street Smart Child”
DGA Award Nomination:
Best Documentary, “How to Raise a Street Smart Child”
Genesis Award: (Presented by the Humane Society)
Sid Caesar Comedy Award, “According To Jim”
Two Writers’ Guild Award Nominations:
Best Comedy Script, “COACH”
Golden Globe Nomination
Best Comedy Show, “COACH”
Nancy Susan Reynolds Award Finalist: (Presented by The Media Project)
“Something So Right”

A graduate of Boston University, Judd lives in Los Angeles, and Lake Arrowhead, CA. When he’s not writing or driving between LA and Arrowhead, he’s playing drums with the Los Angeles Jazz Salon.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a filmmaker and a musician, it was a great privilege and honor to be asked by Rob and Betty to direct this video. At 95 - or any age (less) Betty is an inspiration. Her energy is that of the sun; warm, bright and boundless.