World Premiere on WWOZ

"Jonathan Freilich's Freedom Double-O Naked Klezmer Jazz Latin Boogaloo: The Radio Documentary" is an hour-long radio documentary about guitarist, composer and band leader Jonathan Freilich. Produced by long-time WWOZ show host David Kunian, the documentary will premiere on WWOZ and will also be featured at two listening parties. 

The documentary will air on WWOZ:

Wednesday, November 19 at noon
Wednesday, November 19 at 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 20 at 10:30 p.m.
Friday, November 21 at noon

Listening Party — Tuesday, November 18 at 9 p.m.

Upstairs at the Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen Street, as part of the Open Ears Music Series. The party features the documentary followed by a set by Thollem Mcdonas with Jonathan Freilich as special guest improvisor.

Listening Party — Thursday, November 20 at 9 p.m.

3 Ring Circus Production's Big Top at 1638 Clio Street (corner of Carondelet), featuring the documentary and then the Jonathan Freilich Trio.

About the Documentary

Freilich is a musical innovator who has founded The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars, the jazz bands Naked on the Floor and the avant-garde big band the Naked Orchestra, the rock-steady ska band 007, and the rhythm and blues band Poor Man's Speedball.

The documentary consists of interviews with Freilich, selections from his music, and recollections and interviews from the people who know him and work with him, including musicians Stanton Moore, Joe Cabral, Alex McMurray, Ben Ellman, Glenn Hartmann, Kevin O'Day, Tim Green, James Singleton, Jeff Albert, Drs. James Walsh and Janna Saslaw, filmmaker Henry Griffin, and producers Mark Bingham and Benjamin Lyons.

Produced with the help of grants from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Louisiana Decentralized Arts Program, the program was narrated and produced by writer and radio man David Kunian, who has completed many radio projects in New Orleans, including original documentaries on drummer James Black, the Dew Drop Inn, James Booker (winner of a Silver Reel award), Guitar Slim and Earl King, among others.

For more information, read this article about the documentary by Alison Fensterstock.