Draft:Trumpetistically, Clora Bryant

Trumpetistically, Clora Bryant is a 1989 documentary film about the pioneering female jazz trumpeter Clora Bryant. The film illustrates Bryant's journey of her life as a Black female trumpeter and a great womanist figure, as well as her ground-breaking achievements.

Summary
Trumpetistically, Clora Bryant, is a documentary film by filmmaker Zeinabu irene Davis. Davis is a Black woman filmmaker that identifies herself with the L.A. Rebellion, the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers, who studied at the UCLA Film School from the late 1960s to the late 1980s. Combating classical Hollywood film’s evident stereotyping and underrepresentation of Black people, these filmmakers–Davis included–were determined to portray a different reality. Particularly interested in capturing Black female icons who live their lives at the intersection of racial and gender stereotypes and discrimination, Zeinabu frequently directed her lens at these figures, striving to pierce through unjust narratives to unveil and record the unspoken reality. One such figure is Clora Bryant, a brilliant trumpeter–the star and protagonist of Trumpetistically, Clora Bryant. Throughout her life, Bryant experiences setbacks from stereotyping and unfair treatment in the jazz world, despite her widely-recognized talent and unwavering passion. Nevertheless, Bryant’s jazz life was colorful and inspiring–learning from Dizzy Gillespie, working alongside Billie Holiday, and performing with Louis Armstrong, even becoming the first female jazz musician to tour in the Soviet Union.

Cast
Among the casts of the film were Clora Bryant, Dizzy Gillespie, James Newton, Helen Cole, and Teddy Edwards.

Production
The film was produced by the Wimmin with a Mission Productions studio. Producer was Marc Arthur Chéry.

Bibliography or Further Reading

 * Russonello, Giovanni. "Clora Bryant, Trumpeter and Pillar of L.A. Jazz Scene, Dies at 92". The New York Times, 2019.