Film short written, directed and produced by Heather McBride-Anders,
niece of Bruce Ricker, for the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival. |
The New York Times
Mr. Ricker was known in particular for his first film, “The Last of the Blue Devils,” a feature-length portrait of Kansas City’s old-time jazzmen released in 1979. Shot in cinéma vérité style — he was so green a director, he later said, that he simply turned on the camera and let the men talk and play — it features luminaries like Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Jay McShann...READ MORE
Boston.com
“Bruce Ricker had an extensive knowledge and love of jazz music and the Great American Songbook, which he championed so well in the many documentaries he produced throughout his career,’’ Tony Bennett said in a statement. Bennett was the subject of Mr. Ricker’s 2007 documentary, “Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends.’’ Like most of Mr. Ricker’s films, it was made in collaboration...READ MORE
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PASO ROBLES DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL
A high point in my 47 year career in the business of entertainment is meeting, becoming a friend to, and working close with Bruce Ricker, a true high point. Bruce was an advisor to my Paso Digital Film Fest,
and worked close with me bringing his friend Clint Eastwood to the Festival. In addition he was an associate producer on my documentary on Jimmie Rodgers, and we had...READ MORE LA TIMES
Bruce Ricker was a jazz-loving lawyer in Kansas City who switched careers when a film he made to capture the music scene, 'The Last of the Blue Devils,' met critical acclaim. Documentary filmmaker Bruce Ricker didn't start out making films. A native New Yorker who earned a law degree from Brooklyn Law School, he arrived in Kansas City in 1970 as a...READ MORE
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