Ah, All Night Long! Just turned our mutual friend RJ Marx onto that one after it was screened on TCM. I'm not a jazz aficionado myself, so I can't judge the playing in any deep way, but I enjoyed the film. Patrick McGoohan, on those drums onscreen, was terrific and quite scary as the Iago figure.
That Sammy Davis movie sounds pretty wild. Bad cinema I certainly AM an aficionado of. Ever seen Dance Hall Racket, written by Lenny Bruce? Many would class that as bad, but to me it's fascinating and I've probably seen it ten times by now...😅 It creates its own world.
Agreed, the Gig is a very decent film. Another understated and very enjoyable movie is American Blue Note. My long time favourite, though, is Sven Klang's Kvintett, a brilliant (albeit monochrome) treatment of the changing dynamics within a settled, amateur, band when a brilliant, but flawed, musician joins them.
I will say this-I actually play trumpet, but when I was in a film, playing a member of Jack Black's polka band, I found it very hard to look natural while playing-a question of "trying" rather than just "doing."
I know the movie "Whiplash" got alot of bad reviews by youtube music "influencers" whatever we are supposed to call people who provide commentary and education on music, because of it's unrealistic depiction of an out of control, violent music director.
After my highs chool band teacher retired, a former bass player who toured with US Army Band, Glenn MIller and Count Basie, they said the podium was filled with dents from his pounding the podium with his baton. I might still have dent in my head from being rapped in the head with a pencil. Why? I probably didn't practice. That's so uncommon among music students. (sarcasm) Bet you some student is still walking around with a splinter in his head because after he'd pound the baton in frustration, he'd throw it. Or my college jazz band conductor, university head of jazz department, he'd walk in the room and you knew instantly, it was gonna be a bad hour. His aura looked like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown but instead of dirt, anger. How do you create and learn with somebody that's gonna go ape for anything anybody played wrong?
There is no dirth of anecdotes of music educators going off on students to make them feel like shit for their musical inadequacies. Of course, the college admissions board let them slide into the school because without the students and the $, there would be no programs. Then you have guys like Toscanini who spoke to musicians in a way that would be unacceptable today. The field is littered with abusive educators who might be frustrated themselves despite whatever talent got them into that position. And of course, the infamous Buddy Rich "tapes" Sorry, I'd rather be a dish washer than pursue my dream to be a musician under those circumstances. But I do enjoy watching Buddy play drums.
So I consider the music director in "Whiplash" an archetype of many characters put into one. Yes, this guy went to extremes. Throwing cymbals and threatening students, but hey, it's the movies. But there is an element of truth in it. In a professional setting, maybe there is justification, but in education? Really? The best thing a professor can do for somebody who is 22 years old, gonna get a degree and go in the real world is tell the student, please take some business classes.
I watched a video recently of a professional orchestra musician admitting to taking alpha blockers because they apparently stop shaking from nervousness and there is a code of silence about it despite it being rampant among professional orchestra players. Nervous performers and abusive directors...not a good combination.
As a kid growing up, there wasn't alot of jazz on tv. But I always enjoyed, he 1948 film "A Song Was Born," featuring Louie Bellson, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Mel Powell, The Golden Gate Quartet, Virginia Mayo, and Danny Kaye.
Looks like one I would enjoy for no other reason but to see the rat pack in their younger days. Frank Sinatra on the drums? And wow Nat Adderley sure did kick butt!
Ah, All Night Long! Just turned our mutual friend RJ Marx onto that one after it was screened on TCM. I'm not a jazz aficionado myself, so I can't judge the playing in any deep way, but I enjoyed the film. Patrick McGoohan, on those drums onscreen, was terrific and quite scary as the Iago figure.
That Sammy Davis movie sounds pretty wild. Bad cinema I certainly AM an aficionado of. Ever seen Dance Hall Racket, written by Lenny Bruce? Many would class that as bad, but to me it's fascinating and I've probably seen it ten times by now...😅 It creates its own world.
Agreed, the Gig is a very decent film. Another understated and very enjoyable movie is American Blue Note. My long time favourite, though, is Sven Klang's Kvintett, a brilliant (albeit monochrome) treatment of the changing dynamics within a settled, amateur, band when a brilliant, but flawed, musician joins them.
Two jazz films for your viewing pleasure The Gig features real life jazz musician Warren Vache
and the actor Jerry Matz, who used to work the door at Village Vanguard.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089203/
Uncle Joe Shannon played by Rocky star Burt Young
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078442/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_2_in_0_q_Uncle%2520Joe%2520Shannon
Maynard Ferguson did the trumpet playing for this 1978 film, and this scene is a tour de force - a trumpet concerto written by Bill Conti for Maynard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_7z7CZZQlE
The Gig is a really good film. https://youtu.be/-yjRRN8JmHc?si=1BFkNnPLvwMqKx6X
Wanted to mention Rat Race with a cameo from the undersung Joe Bushkin: https://youtu.be/biMqjRSGt_s?si=8S5Vz3KO2XxB6j68
You allude to one of my personal bugaboos-bad "ghosting" or miming of an instrument. If anyone wants TMI: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/trumpet-miming-in-film-mostly-jive-bernadette-peters-by-steve-provizer
I dig Jack Lord and his horn full of helium.
I will say this-I actually play trumpet, but when I was in a film, playing a member of Jack Black's polka band, I found it very hard to look natural while playing-a question of "trying" rather than just "doing."
I know the movie "Whiplash" got alot of bad reviews by youtube music "influencers" whatever we are supposed to call people who provide commentary and education on music, because of it's unrealistic depiction of an out of control, violent music director.
After my highs chool band teacher retired, a former bass player who toured with US Army Band, Glenn MIller and Count Basie, they said the podium was filled with dents from his pounding the podium with his baton. I might still have dent in my head from being rapped in the head with a pencil. Why? I probably didn't practice. That's so uncommon among music students. (sarcasm) Bet you some student is still walking around with a splinter in his head because after he'd pound the baton in frustration, he'd throw it. Or my college jazz band conductor, university head of jazz department, he'd walk in the room and you knew instantly, it was gonna be a bad hour. His aura looked like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown but instead of dirt, anger. How do you create and learn with somebody that's gonna go ape for anything anybody played wrong?
There is no dirth of anecdotes of music educators going off on students to make them feel like shit for their musical inadequacies. Of course, the college admissions board let them slide into the school because without the students and the $, there would be no programs. Then you have guys like Toscanini who spoke to musicians in a way that would be unacceptable today. The field is littered with abusive educators who might be frustrated themselves despite whatever talent got them into that position. And of course, the infamous Buddy Rich "tapes" Sorry, I'd rather be a dish washer than pursue my dream to be a musician under those circumstances. But I do enjoy watching Buddy play drums.
So I consider the music director in "Whiplash" an archetype of many characters put into one. Yes, this guy went to extremes. Throwing cymbals and threatening students, but hey, it's the movies. But there is an element of truth in it. In a professional setting, maybe there is justification, but in education? Really? The best thing a professor can do for somebody who is 22 years old, gonna get a degree and go in the real world is tell the student, please take some business classes.
I watched a video recently of a professional orchestra musician admitting to taking alpha blockers because they apparently stop shaking from nervousness and there is a code of silence about it despite it being rampant among professional orchestra players. Nervous performers and abusive directors...not a good combination.
As a kid growing up, there wasn't alot of jazz on tv. But I always enjoyed, he 1948 film "A Song Was Born," featuring Louie Bellson, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Mel Powell, The Golden Gate Quartet, Virginia Mayo, and Danny Kaye.
Kenny Clarke?
No.
The first and second time I watched Whiplash caused the same response: Laughter at the connection to psychological characters.
Who knows about other musicians, however, all of these characters live in my head and that's how I worked and became a musician.
Is it right? Is it healthy?
It worked.
Looks like one I would enjoy for no other reason but to see the rat pack in their younger days. Frank Sinatra on the drums? And wow Nat Adderley sure did kick butt!
Who did the arrangements and wrote Mel ending tune.
OK. The drummer looks so familiar. It's NOT Dannie Richmond or Philly Joe. You've got me.
Patrick McGoohan
Of course...The Prisoner.