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Michael Cotler

I am a 70-year-old retired video editor now involved in independent filmmaking.

About Me

I grew up in Brooklyn and moved to NJ as a I teenager. At Ramapo College, my love of jazz began: studying the history of the music, meeting musicians and finding my way on the alto sax. After a stint as a Special Education teacher, I began my career in television at WNYW5 in New York, working as a video editor and technical director. During that time, I earned a Masters Degree in Cinema Studies at New York University. Since retiring from TV, I’ve pursued my own interests. I mange the Facebook page ClassicFlixMix and the website ClassicFlixMix.com, about, not surprisingly, classic film. I’ve also co-produced the documentary film “La création jusqu'au bout: Bernard Réquichot,” about the life and work of the French surrealist artist of the 1950s. In 2022, I married Ellen Elias, a classmate of mine at P.S. 119 in Brooklyn in the 60s, with whom I re- connected on Facebook after fifty-something years! We now split our time between Westchester in New York and Boynton Beach, Florida.

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My Jazz Story

Jazz is truly America’s classical music. The art of jazz improvisation is one of the highest expressions of human creativity, and the communication and interplay among musicians adds an exciting dimension. My jazz story began in the 70’s, going to clubs and concerts around New York. I was fortunate to be able to see some of the legendary masters like Dexter Gordon, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie. The late 70s also saw the emergence of the Soho jazz lofts, where I had the opportunity to hear cutting edge artists such as Sam Rivers, David Murray, Oliver Lake, Hamiet Bluiett and Chico Freeman. My interest has never flagged. The best show I ever attended? Either The Dexter Gordon Homecoming at the Village Vanguard (1976) or the Chucho Valdes & Paquito D'Rivera Reunion Sextet at Town Hall (2023). The first jazz record I ever bought? The Art Of Charles Mingus / The Atlantic Years. My advice to new listeners? Don't overlook the early masters, and keep an open mind about new sounds. Some tastes are acquired.