Private Project

Stepping Into Tomorrow (The Story of Jazz Funk Fusion and the Music That Changed The World)

  • Jason Orr
    Director
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of A Movement), Maynard (The Man. The Politician. The Game Changer.)
  • Jamal Ahmad
    Director
  • Jason Orr
    Writer
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of A Movement)
  • Jamal Ahmad
    Writer
  • George Duke
    Key Cast
  • Al Jarreau
    Key Cast
  • George Benson
    Key Cast
  • Roy Ayers
    Key Cast
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of a Movement)
  • Bob James
    Key Cast
  • Marcus Miller
    Key Cast
  • Lonnie Liston Smith
    Key Cast
  • James Mtume
    Key Cast
  • Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
    Key Cast
  • Phonte Lyshod Coleman
    Key Cast
  • Nicolay Rook
    Key Cast
  • Larry (GRP RECORDS) Rosen
    Key Cast
  • Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick
    Key Cast
  • DJ Pete Rock
    Key Cast
  • DJ Marley Marl
    Key Cast
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Allen) Townes
    Key Cast
  • Robert Glasper
    Key Cast
  • Bilal Oliver
    Key Cast
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of a Movement)
  • Lil John Roberts
    Key Cast
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of a Movement)
  • Paris Strother
    Key Cast
  • Lil Louis Burns
    Key Cast
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of a Movement)
  • Micheal League
    Key Cast
  • Miguel Atwood Ferguson
    Key Cast
  • Mark deClive Lowe
    Key Cast
  • Cee Lo Green
    Key Cast
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of a Movement)
  • Billy Cobham
    Key Cast
  • Greg Tate
    Key Cast
  • Larry Mizell
    Key Cast
  • Omar Lye-fook (MBE)
    Key Cast
  • Ramsey Lewis
    Key Cast
  • Jeff Lorber
    Key Cast
  • Jason Orr
    Producer
    FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade (The Story of A Movement), Maynard (The Man. The Politician. The Game Changer.) ,
  • Jamal Ahmad
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Music history, Documentary, Jazz, Funk, Jazz Funk, Fusion, Hip Hop, Soul Music, Social History, Systemic Racism, Police Brutality, The Transition, Black Music, Disco, House Music, Quiet Storm, Smooth Jazz, R&B
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 38 minutes 14 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jason Orr, Jamal Ahmad

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 producer of the award-winning, “Maynard” documentary on visionary, Maynard Jackson. Orr produced 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 30 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 in AJC Film's "The South Got Something To Say", "Arts, Beat & Lyrics: The Untold Story Of The Dopest Art Show In America" (HULU), 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 (Brand New Heavies), Lady Alma, Wes Felton, as well as Orr’s own music group, Soul Of Earth, with producer, Craig Love.

What remains constant is Orr's vigorous quest to serve as a catalyst for broadening and archiving our rich cultural arts environments through film and music.

Co-director - Jamal Ahmad
Musicologist, award-winning, 21 year on-air radio veteran and DJ with extensive experience in the entertainment industry. Ahmad is the founder, producer and artist in the music group, The Dangerfeel Newbies. He is the co-founder Groovement / Earthseed, an artist collective record label that helped introduce ground-breaking artists such as India.Arie, Donnie, and Anthony David. He also produces musical and cultural events including the Atlanta Soul Weekender at The Jazz Café (London), tribute concerts to Marvin Gaye, Lil Louis, Donny Hathaway and Salsoul Records.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"This story is not only about the origins of the ground-breaking evolution of "American Classical Music" (Jazz) that birthed other impactful music genres and social movements during a transition into an electric era, it's also about bravery and the human ambition to change the world through music.

I'm grateful for opportunities to explore the magic of storytelling as a powerful tool of democracy, activism and social awareness.

For me, this film is about continuing to promote cultural preservation, cultural sustainability and cultural education for tomorrows cultural and social innovations."

Jason Orr
(Writer, Producer, Director)