help make the 2025 release of the film happen
SUPPORT THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN or PRE-ORDER THE FILM
Get your own copy of the film either digitally or as a 2 DVD set featuring the documentary film and a full performance version of all the songs from the original 2005 recording session, plus exciting bonus features. With Warriors All by Horace Tapscott, Desert Fairy Princess and Peyote Song III by Jesse Sharps, Language of Saxophones from poet Kamau Daáood, Agony in the Garden from bassist and composer Roberto Miranda, and Lately's Solo (Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra standard arranged by Horace Tapscott) along with behind the scenes footage, additional interviews, and more you'll get over three hours of exciting and historic material.
Click the button above to get the DVD or Digital Version via our campaign
Our crowdfunding campaign kicks off on October 10th, 2025 which is the anniversary of the original recording session that started The Gathering and is featured in the documentary film.
Pre-Order the film directly instead via the link below
Shipping in the US only for the dvd (free)
Dual Set DVD/Download of the film
The Gathering: Roots & Branches of Los Angeles Jazz chronicles a multi-generational music project started in 2005 by Jesse Sharps, one of the great composers to come out of the progressive improvised music scene of Los Angeles and an early bandleader of Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. It focuses on the Leimert Park district and progressive jazz scene of Los Angeles covering the history of the music, and the tradition of elders guiding the young players on the scene. With live performances and behind the scenes footage of the historic recording session that started the project off, and interviews and performances by local legends Azar Lawrence, Dwight Trible, Kamau Daáood, Phil Ranelin, and Roberto Miranda as well as rising stars Kamasi Washington, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and many others, the film covers a rich and evolving musical community.
The film has completed its festival run, with a world premiere "work in progress" at the Maine International Film Festival in 2019, a West Coast premiere at the 2020 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, Midwest premiere at the 2020 Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago, and and international premiere at the Jecheon Music and Film Festival in Korea.