Jonathan Shutman

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The technical aspects of the movie aside, this was a misguided and destructive movie. Several have mentioned the absence of young women or black musicians in the movie. Simmons plays a sadistic teacher and the kid plays a fully misguided music student. First, Jazz originates and innovates in its inception and continued reach within African American culture and community with African American progenitors. One can only assume the Simmons character is portraying some kind of wanna bee who would be shunned or laughed off the bandstand with his attitude. Sadly, there are kids out there who aspire to the stereotype of the white teacher and drummer ... to prove themselves. Jazz is not first a music about perfection, technical or otherwise, although the best Jazz musicans have a wide range of world class musical skills and abilities. Jazz is a music about the heart, passion, the spirit, struggle in a personal but wider context, and for that matter love ... for all people and the world beyond. All that was lacking in the movie. There are too many great teachers who in no way resemble what is portrayed, mostly black and also of other backgrounds ... Ted Dunbar, Barry Harris, Jackie McClean, Kenny Barron, to name a few of too many, who knew and know how to inspire rather than tear down. This movie was reminiscent of Shine, a much better movie about the destructiveness of an imbalance of power and sadism towards one who might be inclined to break and manifest that in mental illness. Several years ago in Asbury Park, NJ, there was a Chico's House of Jazz (that sadly did not last.) I went a few times - wrote a newspaper letter to the editor that contained the following: "The price of admission was $5.00, modest compared to any NYC venue, as was the price for food and beverages. The atmosphere was comfortable and warm, and the 40 or so patrons Saturday night represented what is best about our nation; people of different ages and cultural backgrounds brought together because of the uniquely American, emotionally authentic, and instrumental virtuosity that characterizes Jazz. Duke Ellington referred to Jazz as our African-American Classical Music, music that blends and extends the very core of struggle, justice and independence that represents our best as a nation." This movie, with all due respect to the actors and musicians, was another misguided and frankly stolen misappropriation of what jazz is to those who play it, know it, and follow it. The same for La La Land, another white ode to jazz with absolutely no understanding of it. This is another example why Black Lives Matter, which I respectfully reference as a non-black, but this movie is actually in my opinion destructive. It is self indulgent and destructive to the music Jazz - and all people who aspire to excellence, understanding with the best of efforts and intentions, it may not come or be reached. That is no reason to tear apart the efforts and ego of anyone, usually by those who know too well who they are not.