The Story
In the 2010s, Quincy, Sandra and Taru were about to become the next big thing in jazz. Instead, they broke up. Today, Sandra is a pop star and Taru is a respected bandleader, but Quincy has disappeared into obscurity. When the trio reunites, playing a tune from their heyday reopens old wounds as Quincy must decide whether to reveal the long-held secret behind their breakup.
The Vision
A Song Called Quest is a layered and emotional drama that explores the bonds of friendship, sacrifice and vulnerability through the intimate and collaborative lens of jazz improvisation. I began my career as a jazz musician and through countless hours of studying my musical idols, and performing with some of them, I learned that the communication onstage between artists exhibits levels of trust and intimacy that rival those of even the most intimate personal relationships. The film revolves around Quincy, a musician capable of an honesty on the bandstand that conflicts with a truth he cannot reveal off of it. This is a film that asks how big of a sacrifice you’re willing to make for those you care about, even if they can never know you did it.
-Amadou Diallo
Characters
Quincy carries a secret behind the trio's demise that has kept him off the scene for more than a decade.
Taru is living the life they imagined all those years ago but misses making music with his old friends.
Sandra became what others wanted her to be–a star– instead of what she wanted to be: an artist.