Documentary on Jazz Legend Frank Morgan Comes to L.A. and New York

"Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story," tells the tragic story of jazz legend Frank Morgan (File photo).

LOS ANGELES - The documentary by N.C. Heikin, "Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story," a film by , will open in New York at The IFC Center on Dec. 2 and in Los Angeles at Laemmle on Dec.18.

"Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story," is a feature documentary about a gifted alto sax player and Charlie Parker's protégé, Frank Morgan. Morgan fell hard into heroin and ultimately became almost as good a conman and thief as he was a musician in order to feed his drug habit. His addiction cost him 30 years of his life in and out of prison, most of it at San Quentin, where he performed in a big band with fellow junkie jazz musicians that grew famous in the Bay Area. To bring the past into present, director NC Heikin and writer Michael Connelly ("The Lincoln Lawyer") brought an all-star band together into the "Q" for a concert. This hyper-emotional event forms the backbone of this riveting film.

Filmmaker Heikin began her career at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club in New York and went on to work on and off Broadway as an actress, singer and director. She has written screenplays for Disney and Paramount as well as French TV networks. In 2004, she made her directing debut with her award-winning short, "Mañana." Her first documentary, "Kimjongilia," about North Korean refugees, premiered at Sundance, won the One World Brussels Best Film 2010, and has been seen all over the world. Heikin's stage play, "Late," is in casting for a premiere in Paris next season.