Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer

"She survived it all to become one of the world's great jazz singers"

Apr 30 2007 Not Rated 1h 30m
Documentary, Music

This documentary explores the life of jazz singer Anita O'Day. As a child, Anita had a tonsillectomy, during which her uvula was accidentally removed. The surgery prevents her from singing vibrato and holding long notes, but lends to her much-revered percussive style. Anita overcomes her vocal hurdle, as well as many others -- including poverty, heroin addiction and jail time for a drug arrest -- to become one of the most prolific and respected jazz vocalists of the 20th century. Initial release: 30 April 2007

Plot

A documentary look at the improvised life of Anita O'Day (1919-2006), singer and stylist whose timing, phrasing, interpretations, and unique sound put her among the finest vocalists of jazz. Interviews with her late in life are interspersed with archival footage of performances and old interviews as well as with comments by friends, arrangers, critics, and other musicians. She talks about singing without a uvula (sing eighth notes), of jail time for a marijuana arrest, of taking and kicking heroin, of finally making money after appearing at the Newport Jazz Festival, of loss, of a broken arm that almost cost her life, and of living in 4/4 time, one day at a time, smiling.

Written by

Robbie Cavolina, Ian McCrudden

Directed by

Robbie Cavolina, Ian McCrudden

Cast

Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bregman

Crew

View crew

Languages

English

Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
257
Average Rating
7.9 out of 10
Metascore
76
Popularity
NA