Private Project

FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story Of A Phenomenon) REDUX

Narrated by Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame alumni, Chuck D (of Public Enemy) this is the story of a cultural legend as told by the innovators of an important, and in some cases overlooked, era in Black culture. Spanning the late 1980′s through to the early 2000′s, this story goes deep into the fabric of soul music, it’s definitions, it’s pioneers, it’s offspring, it’s movements, the challenges with the “mainstream” industry as well as the evolution of the FunkJazz Kafé Arts & Music Festival, a music and artistic renaissance movement born out of Atlanta’s diverse musical and cultural arts heritage. The film covers the decade when Atlanta’s underground music scene became established on the world stage and a new generation of soul singers and musicians emerged. FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story Of A Movement) also explores the question of how we got to live soul bands being non-existing in the commercial music landscape of the 21st century when there once was a plethora of soul and R&B bands since the creation of recorded music. Appearances by: Cornel West, Dick Gregory, Andre 3000, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae, Common, Dallas Austin, Erykah Badu, Jamie Foxx, Caron Wheeler, Larry Mizell, Joi Gilliam, George Clinton, Cee Lo Green, Roy Ayers, Raphael Saadiq, Lil John Roberts, Goodie Mob, Doug E, Fresh, Meshell NdegeOcello, Omar Lye-Fook, MC Lyte, Talib Kweli, Jamal Ahmad, Anthony David, Ray Murray (Organized Noize), N’Dea Davenport, Algebra Blessett, LeRonde Williams, Kevin Powell, Loose Ends, Bilal, Dionne Farris, Van Hunt, Eric Roberson, Donnie, Bone Crusher, Sticman of Dead Prez, DJ Kemit and Speech of Arrested Development.

  • Jason Orr
    Director
    Maynard
  • Jason Orr
    Writer
    Maynard
  • Jason Orr
    Producer
    Maynard
  • Erykah Badu
    Key Cast
  • Jill Scott
    Key Cast
  • Cornel West
    Key Cast
  • Dick Gregory
    Key Cast
  • Cee Lo Green
    Key Cast
  • Speech Thomas (Arrested Development)
    Key Cast
  • Janelle Monae
    Key Cast
  • George Clinton
    Key Cast
  • Dallas Austin
    Key Cast
  • Roy Ayers
    Key Cast
  • Andre 3000 (Outkast)
    Key Cast
  • Doug E. Fresh
    Key Cast
  • Joi Gilliam
    Key Cast
  • Caron Wheeler
    Key Cast
  • Chuck D (Public Enemy)
    Key Cast
  • Ray Murray (Organized Noize)
    Key Cast
  • Jamal Ahmad
    Key Cast
  • Talib Kweli
    Key Cast
  • Professor Griff (Public Enemy) Narrator
    Key Cast
  • Van Hunt
    Key Cast
  • Eric Roberson
    Key Cast
  • Anthony David
    Key Cast
  • Bilal
    Key Cast
  • Omar Lye-Fook, MBE
    Key Cast
  • Dionne Farris
    Key Cast
  • LeRonde Williams
    Key Cast
  • DJ Kemit
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Music, Cultural Arts, Music History, Cultural Preservation, Soul Music, Music Documentary, Music Education, Black Film
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 6 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 5, 2012
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, HD and 8mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jason Orr

Jason Orr is a filmmaker, culture analyst, marketer, consultant, music producer and producer of arts & music festival programs that creatively integrates unique individuals, lifestyle brands and products.
As a filmmaker, he’s the director, writer and producer of the documentary film, “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story Of A Movement)” and he is currently a producer of the award-winning, “Maynard” documentary on visionary, Maynard Jackson. Since 2012, Orr has been the producer of the FJK Documentary Film Festival & Music Conference created to promote and highlight extraordinary individuals and their stories that have impacted society and culture. Orr has produced and directed short films and music videos with several mainstream artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Dionne Farris, Omar Lye-Fook (UK Artist) and Van Hunt.
For twenty five years, he has been responsible for conceptualizing, developing and marketing creative content for Atlanta’s legendary, FunkJazz Kafé Arts & Music Festival, an unscripted festival environment with a backdrop of innovative and progressive music dedicated to the preservation, education, sustainability and innovation of a rich cultural arts legacy of which Orr has received a proclamation from the City Of Atlanta for his contributions to the city’s music, film and cultural arts communities.
On screen, Orr has appeared on TV One’s “Unsung (Arrested Development)”, Centric’s “Leading Ladies (India Arie)” and in Tyler Perry’s movie, “Madea’s Family Reunion”.
As a music producer, he has worked on projects with established artists such as British soul pioneers, Caron Wheeler (of Soul II Soul), Omar Lye-Fook and Loose Ends, American artists Dionne Farris, N’Dea Davenport (of the Brand New Heavies), house music veteran, Lady Alma, thespian artist, Wes Felton, as well as Orr’s own music outfit, Soul Of Earth, with co-producer, Craig Love on their label, Soul Circle Music.
What remains constant is Orr's vigorous quest to serve as a catalyst for broadening and archiving our rich cultural arts environment through film and music.

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Director Statement

Create! Now is the best time to preserve, sustain, educate and innovate on our rich cultural arts and music legacies through documentary films!