LeRoy Neiman's Big Band

LeRoy Neiman's Big Band is one of Eric Marciano’s favorite projects. It is a unique film that explores the intersection of visual art and music and how the two inspire each other.

LeRoy Neiman's Big Band was commissioned by the world-renowned artist LeRoy Neiman and intertwines over 50 years of LeRoy’s paintings, water colors and works on paper with the music from jazz players that moved him, many of whom he knew.

The co-producer, director, cinematographer and editor Eric Marciano has years of experience integrating these two distinct, yet parallel worlds, which made him the ideal choice for this film. As LeRoy has stated, “He fundamentally understands both worlds.”

The concept for the film began with telling the story of the creation of one of LeRoy’s latest works. A large canvas inspired by Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Referred to as the “Big Painting” this work is 18 feet wide and 12 feet high. It features 18 of some the biggest personalities in jazz history including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

Along with exploring the creation of the “Big Painting”, the film reveals over 100 other jazz related drawings, paintings, posters and works on paper allowing the film to include the music of Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins and Frank Sinatra.

LeRoy shares many of his personal anecdotes about these Jazz Luminaries.

The show was filmed in HDV and scanned at high resolution. Special care was taken tocapture theses works in all of their style, color and brilliance.

LeRoy Neiman's Big Band is like to be released anytime soon. If you are interested in discussing the film please contact Eric Marciano.