Bolden is a 2019 American drama film based on the life of cornetist Buddy Bolden (1877–1931). One of the seminal figures in jazz history, Bolden left no surviving recordings, having been committed in 1907 at age 30 to the Louisiana State Insane Asylum, where he spent the rest of his life after a diagnosis of acute alcoholic psychosis."Two Films Unveil a Lost Jazz Legend", National Public Radio, December 15, 2007. "By most accounts, a mix of alcohol and mental illness sent Bolden into an asylum in 1907; he stayed there until his death in 1931."
The musical drama is directed by Daniel Pritzker, and features original music written, arranged and performed by Wynton Marsalis.Bolden (Original Soundtrack), at WyntonMarsalis.org The film stars Gary Carr as Bolden, and co-stars Erik LaRay Harvey, Reno Wilson, Yaya DaCosta, Ian McShane and Michael Rooker.
The score by Marsalis includes vocalists Catherine Russell, Brianna Thomas, Don Vappie, and instrumentalists including Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Marcus Printup, and others."Jazz at Lincoln Center Press Release: Tuesday, March 5th, 2019" The film contains performances by Reno Wilson playing Louis Armstrong (acting and singing)."Reno Wilson Channels Louis Armstrong In 'Bolden'"
Bolden was released in theaters on May 3, 2019, by Abramorama.
Cast Gary Carr as Charles "Buddy" Bolden Erik LaRay Harvey as Bartley Ian McShane as Judge Leander Perry Michael Rooker as Pat McMurphy Yaya DaCosta as Nora Bolden Reno Wilson as Louis Armstrong Robert Ri'chard as George Baquet Karimah Westbrook as Alice Bolden Breon Pugh as Willie Warner Ser'Darius Blain as Willie Cornish
Reception On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 50 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
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