Bruce Ricker 1942-2011

[brownie]

Filmmaker Bruce Ricker who made jazz oriented films like 'Last of te Blue Devils' and 'Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser' passed away last Friday.

Obituary in The Kansas City Star.

Edited May 17, 2011 by brownie

[paul secor]

Saw both Last of the Blue Devils and Straight No Chaser on the big screen when they were released, and enjoyed them a lot. And Rhapsody Films was an important vehicle which made jazz videos available to a wider public.

Thanks for what you did, Mr. Ricker.

[sidewinder]

Sad to hear this - RIP. I am a big fan of the films put out by Rhapsody Films. He did a major service to jazz with that !

[medjuck]

A good man. I first met him when he was screening a rough cut of Last of the Blue Devils and ran into him again after more than thirty years when he'd just finished a film about Dave Brubeck. The guy spent most of his life supporting the music.

[Stereojack]

Bruce lived about 2 blocks from my store, and was a regular visitor. We did some business together, and I am saddened to hear of his passing.

[Brownian Motion]

His NYT obit.

[JEV1A]

I'm shocked and saddened by the loss of Bruce Ricker. He expressed great interest and praise for my Film on Don Ellis and he was a major influence in my own artistic endeavors whether it was Filmmaking or Producing. Bruce's love for Jazz and all pure musical art forms reached out to so many that knew him. His legacy will always be remembered by the great Films that he made, was involved in and Distributed. -John Vizzusi