Hubris, anger, prejudice...doo-wop, reggae, rock...expectations, heartbreak, transformation...Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between examines the fifty-year career of this genre-bending, biracial singer-songwriter and asks why “the name Garland Jeffreys either means nothing to you or everything to you.”
As a first-time director, Claire Jeffreys made the film hoping to have a larger audience come to appreciate Garland as his devoted fans already did. Over time, her vision for the film expanded and she hopes that people will come away with a respect not only for Garland's hard-won success, but with a desire to embrace their own levels of achievement in any sphere, not just as artists, but as human beings. This film is especially timely because it offers a nuanced portrait of a songwriter who covered issues of racism and identity in his work over a period of fifty years, all the while being marginalized because of it. It explores the intersection of a changing culture, a changing industry and most of all a changing person. America is reevaluating its racial history and how "micro-aggressions" play out every day. This film tells the story of how these forces played out in the life and career of one man. Through Garland’s long journey to self-acceptance and humility, the film offers insight into how all of us struggle to define professional and personal success.
So many people have offered their insights to this film. We hear from colleagues and admirers like singer-songwriters Graham Parker and Alejandro Escovedo, Bruce Springsteen and guitar virtuoso Vernon Reid (Living Colour). Critics Robert Christgau and David Hajdu offer contextualizing takes on Garland, and friends and family fill in some of the more personal aspects of his story. Actor / writer Roger Guenveur Smith makes connections between the music of Garland's youth and his later work; longtime accompanist Alan Freedman remembers life on the road and snafus with various record labels; avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson reflects on Lou Reed's affection and respect for his college pal as well as the quixotic nature of success; and friend and actor Harvey Keitel gives his insight on Garland’s persona and love life.
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