Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
In The Mix: Music & Film—Tony Williams in Africa with special performance by The Don Brown Collective
September 6th, 2025 at LACMA's Smidt Welcome Plaza
Tune in to a sonically inspired series of films documenting the sounds, rhythms and vibrations that move us to action and change the world. Featuring Songs From the Hole and Tony Williams in Africa - films made by, about and through music with screenings accompanied by live performances and conversations.
Tony Williams in Africa is a 37-minute short by bassist and educator Willie Ruff that follows American jazz drummer Tony Williams on a trip to Senegal and The Gambia in 1972, featuring Super 8mm footage of Williams jamming outdoors with West African drummers as well as a framing section with Ruff, Williams, and pianist Dwike Mitchell presenting the film on 16mm to local children. Restored by the Yale Film Archive.
Following the film will be a post-screening conversation with Crenshaw Dairy Mart Executive Director Ashley Blakeney and drummer Don Brown.
Co-presented by Crenshaw Dairy Mart
TONY WILLIAMS IN AFRICA
by Willie Ruff
1973, 16mm, 37 minutes
The Don Brown Collective was founded by drummer Don Brown of South Central, LA. The Collective is a powerhouse 7-piece jazz ensemble featuring some of LA’s top musicians: Chris Powe on Alto Saxophone, Tatiana Tate on Trumpet, Ronnie Heard III on Tenor Saxophone, Isaac Green on Upright Bass, Mike Isacs on Guitar, Wendell Phipps on Keys and Don Brown on Drums. These LA natives formed the Collective to bring live jazz to community spaces outside of traditional venues, celebrate their musical chemistry as friends, and to nourish the art of jazz performance.
In The Mix: Music & Film—Tony Williams in Africa with special performance by The Don Brown Collective
September 6th, 2025 at LACMA's Smidt Welcome Plaza
Tune in to a sonically inspired series of films documenting the sounds, rhythms and vibrations that move us to action and change the world. Featuring Songs From the Hole and Tony Williams in Africa - films made by, about and through music with screenings accompanied by live performances and conversations.
Tony Williams in Africa is a 37-minute short by bassist and educator Willie Ruff that follows American jazz drummer Tony Williams on a trip to Senegal and The Gambia in 1972, featuring Super 8mm footage of Williams jamming outdoors with West African drummers as well as a framing section with Ruff, Williams, and pianist Dwike Mitchell presenting the film on 16mm to local children. Restored by the Yale Film Archive.
Following the film will be a post-screening conversation with Crenshaw Dairy Mart Executive Director Ashley Blakeney and drummer Don Brown.
Co-presented by Crenshaw Dairy Mart
TONY WILLIAMS IN AFRICA
by Willie Ruff
1973, 16mm, 37 minutes
The Don Brown Collective was founded by drummer Don Brown of South Central, LA. The Collective is a powerhouse 7-piece jazz ensemble featuring some of LA’s top musicians: Chris Powe on Alto Saxophone, Tatiana Tate on Trumpet, Ronnie Heard III on Tenor Saxophone, Isaac Green on Upright Bass, Mike Isacs on Guitar, Wendell Phipps on Keys and Don Brown on Drums. These LA natives formed the Collective to bring live jazz to community spaces outside of traditional venues, celebrate their musical chemistry as friends, and to nourish the art of jazz performance.
