Best music/musician documentaries?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

I'm looking for recommendations on documentaries about music/musicians to watch. I'm not looking for documentaries about the lives or legacies of musicians, but rather about the creative process behind creating music. Think "Jiro Dreams Of Sushi" but centering on a composer or musician rather than a chef. Is there anything like this out there?

If you have any suggestions, I'd love if you could mention a place that I could watch it (if you're aware of one) such as Netflix, YouTube, if it's on DVD, etc. 

 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

There's personal fly-on-the-wall stuff, but also a lot of talk about the work, so maybe "Glass : A Portrait Of Philip Glass In Twelve Parts" might be something along the lines of what you're looking for.

 

 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

"Touch The Sound", about the profoundly deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Keith Richards : Under the Influence Trailer

[Jay Lerner-Z]

The Wrecking Crew Trailer

Music lovers will be astonished at the influence The Wrecking Crew wielded over rock and pop music in the 1960s and early 1970s. These unsung instrumentalists were the de-facto backing band on hit records by The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Elvis, The Monkees and many more. These dedicated musicians brought the flair and musicianship that made the American West Coast Sound a dominant cultural force around the world.

 

I'm not sure if any of these meet your needs, so I'm gonna stop now. :)

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I'll definitely check them out, they look good. 

[dramamama611]

maybe not quite what you are looking for, but fascinating nonetheless...Jared Leto's "Artifact."

[madbrian]

I found the recent documentary about Mavis Staples compelling.

[Younger Brother]

20 Feet From Stardom is fantastic and probably my favourite documentary 

[javero]

My boss recommends the Jaco Pastorius Documentary.  

[sabrelady]

An odd but IMHO wonderful film 

Thirty Two  Short Films About Glenn Gould

Gould is played by Colm Feore .The film does not present a single narrative, rather a series of thirty-one short films. These include documentaries (five interviews with people who knew him), re-creations of scenes from Gould's life, and various odd items (such as "Gould Meets McLaren", in which animated spheres reminiscent of those in Norman Maclaren's animations move to Gould's music). 

98 % of the music is Gould's performances.

[yankeefan7]

If you can find a copy of the Beatle movie "Let It Be", it might be interesting for you. Yes, it can be depressing at times hearing them fight but it is cool to see them in the process of recording the album that became "Let It Be". It also has their last live performance together on the rooftop in London.