The Jazz.com Blog
July 13, 2008 · 18 comments
Open Letter to Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen & Bill Cosby
Jazz fans have long enjoyed a love-hate relationship with Hollywood. We appreciate the jazzy soundtracks and are delighted when a famous director gives the nod to a jazz bio-pic. But the end results are never pure enough for the purists, and every fan has a personal gripe or pet project needing urgent attention. (When will George Lucas get off his duff and make that film about Darth Vader's other son? . . . . Working title: The Sun Ra Story.) Into this breach jumps regular jazz.com contributor Walter Kolosky, who offers up a host of fresh ideas in this open letter to jazzs best friends in the film industry. T.G.
I hope someone close to devoted jazz fans Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen and Bill Cosby reads this blog and sends them here to read it.
Jazz needs a big favor. Clint, Woody and Bill God bless you all for the support you have given jazz music over the years. I would be hard-pressed to find any other celebrities of your stature who have done as much to bolster a music form they love. But do you think you could take another step even farther and raise a little money and get involved with producing a jazz movie that actually celebrates jazz music? We have seen enough jazz movies tell the story of some drunk or drugged out musician who dies a tragic death. I dont think depressing jazz movies do a lot to help the music attract more fans. And, lets face facts most of the movies are depressing. Looking at some of the most famous ones bears this out.
Bertrand Taverniers Round Midnight is one of the best movies ever made about jazz. Saxophone great Dexter Gordon starred as Dale Turner, a falling-down drunk American expatriate jazz legend. The movie would have been even greater if Tavernier had cut 20 minutes and Turner had kicked his habit. His character could have led a musical revolution instead of becoming just another victim of the jazz lifestyle. I dont care what the book the movie was based on said.
Spike Lees Mo Better Blues is another jazz movie more about gambling addiction and thugs than a celebration of the music. I know it ends on a hopeful note but do all jazz movies have to be about suffering? Apparently so.
Frank Sinatra starred in The Man with the Golden Arm. He played a jazz musician with you guessed it a drug problem. Steve Allen played Benny Goodman in The Benny Goodman Story. While on the surface this movie wasnt about drugs or alcohol, Allens amazingly sleepy performance indicated he or Benny may have been on downers after all. What the heck did Donna Reed see in that guy? There is also The Glenn Miller Story. They should have stopped that one before the plane crash. And then there is the poor junkie Gene Krupa in The Gene Krupa Story. It just goes on and on.
Clint, you have been a major jazz supporter for many years. Your involvement with the Monterey Jazz Festival has been a great help. But you also directed the drug downer movie Bird about Charlie Parker. It was actually a very well made movie. But, it was so depressing. Years ago you starred as a jazz disc-jockey in Play Misty for Me. Wouldnt you know it; you are stalked in that movie by psychotic killer Jessica Walter. Clint, you should have known better. I must confess that since that movie I have always associated the classic tune Misty with a knife-wielding Jessica Walter kneeling on top of me in my bed. While aspects of that vision still intrigue me . . . it has not made me go buy more jazz music. Clint, I think you may owe us.
Bill you are a great supporter of jazz music. You frequently host the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. Although I must in all honesty say I think you talk too much over the music at that event; I am grateful for all you have done to promote jazz over the years. In your old Cosby Show you made it a point to sneak your love of the music into many episodes. You got involved in producing a few jazz albums as well. This has all been helpful to the cause.
Woody you are a big fan of the New Orleans jazz style. In your reel life movies you often feature New Orleans jazz music in the soundtracks. In your real life you play a good clarinet in a New Orleans style band and you were in a documentary about the bands travels throughout Europe. It was quite good. But still, the director didnt quite go for the exciting and joyous angle I wished she had.
As I write these words there continue to be rumors that movies about jazz superstars, and famous drug users, Miles Davis and Chet Baker are about to be made. The rumor about the Miles movie, this time with actor Don Cheadle connected, has been around for almost two decades now. But no one ever seems to pull the trigger. I can assure you that if these flicks are ever produced they will not be funfests.
Yes I have some uplifting jazz movie ideas! Some of them are as follows. I will not sue anyone who uses them:
Return of the Jazz Men: Starring Danny Glover, Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby. Three aging but sober and non-drug addicted black expatriate American jazz musicians return to America in 1973. Morgan Freeman plays the part of God and a mean sax with Echoplex. Fun and hilarity ensue as the trio tries to adjust to jazz-fusion music and the unexpected fame their attempts at playing it garner them. In one particularly funny scene the guys run into a young Ken Burns and ignore him.
Horn of Plenty: Starring John Goodman, Delta Burke, Howard Hesseman, Miley Cyrus and Spike Lee as himself. Trombone player Jumbo Plenty is the mayor of a 1960s southern town. He metes out criminal and social justice during the day and swings it on stage with his jazz band at night. A young Spike Lee comes to town to film an 8mm project for school. Spike is heavily made-up for the role.
Rebel without a Gig: Starring Woody Allen, Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Harry Connick Jr., Diane Keaton, Barbara Hershey, Carol Kane, Tony Roberts, Shelley Duvall, Dianne Wiest, Gene Hackman, Jessica Walter, Martin Landau, Jennifer Tilly, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. Also making guest appearances are Kyle and Alison Eastwood. Woody Allen is a bumbling clarinet player who finally finds his way by channeling the spirit of Sidney Bechet. This film should be directed by Clint Eastwood. Morgan Freeman makes a cameo appearance as God.
Mutiny on the Band Stand: Starring Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jason Timberlake, Diddy, Branford Marsalis, Donnie and Marie Osmond, Clare Danes and Larry David. A hip-hop group makes millions of dollars sampling the music of Louis Armstrongs Hot Five. Their manager (Larry David), a closet jazz fan, convinces them to play their own modern jazz music instead. The group becomes destitute but they are happier playing jazz.
Close Encounters of the Third Stream: Starring George Clooney, Charlize Theron, Lucy Liu or Lisa Ling, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonc. A writer who has just written a blog about how there should be some positive movies made about jazz music is aggressively pursued by four or five amorous international jazz-loving beauties who turn out to be space aliens who want to repopulate their dying world with jazz and classical music fans to please their planets new leader, the recently kidnapped Gunther Schuller.
So cmon Clint and Bill, Woody or anyone else with the money or the ability to raise it, please make a movie that truly celebrates jazz. I know you have given a lot to the cause already. But the jazz community may need you now more than ever. (That is assuming jazz is dying. But that is for another blog.)
This blog entry posted by Walter Kolosky.
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No mention of Woody's "Sweet & Lowdown", about the second greatest jazz guitarist ever?
My good friend Alan said: Walter: I realize your blog is facetious, but your reference to "the poor junkie Gene Krupa" is regrettable. Walter says : Yes it was facetious and further made my point about jazz movies and their portrayals. facetious - "joking or jesting often inappropriately." I am not allowed to be facetious? Why have the word? I don't think Gene Krupa was a junkie. Some pot and alcohol don't make you that in my book. But the overwrought portrayal of this episode in the movie suggested it... Carl said: No mention of Woody's "Sweet & Lowdown", about the second greatest jazz guitarist ever? Walter says: Can't mention all movies...and this movie isn't bad...but that being said, Sean Penn played an obnoxious alcoholic didn't he? Thanks for your comments.
For God's sake, lighten up everyone! Walter's blog was intended to simultaneously amuse and make a point, and it successfully did both. Thanks for making me laugh on a Monday morning, Walter.
Walter does deserve to be slapped for missing Sweet & Lowdown, however the rest of his post I find quite amusing and on point Read his first book: Girls Don't Like Real Jazz and you will understand his insightful sarcasm. Go Walter!
Sweet & Lowdown, was a great movie, especially those fake documentary interviews with the music guys reminiscing about the legend.
The Glen Miller story was pretty good.What is it not cool enough because its about Big Band music, and not pretentious experimental modern jazz?
Joshua said "The Glen Miller story was pretty good.What is it not cool enough because its about Big Band music, and not pretentious experimental modern jazz?" ***Walter responds: I like both big band music and pretentious experimental modern jazz. How about you?
I was going to stay out of this fray, but cant resist: Walter, I love your writing, but Alan was right about Gene Krupa. Isnt it bad enough that he was played by Sal Mineo? Having said that, I applaud your article, which takes Hollywood to the woodshed for its dark, depressing, stereotype substance-abusing jazz musician model. Please, nobody tell these guys that most of us work for $75 a night, plus tips, when we can actually find work- thats the real tragedy! Excuse me, I have to go down to the dump and shoot some rats
What about the movie American Bluenote? Fairly upbeat.
'The Fabulous Baker Boys' ends happily- the movie ends with Jeff Bridges ditching the piano bar world to finally reach his full potential as a jazz pianist. And he wins Michelle Pfeiffer.
Walter's right about the stereotypical way jazz musicians are portrayed in both music and literature - usually as being addicted to something, whether it be drugs, alcohol, pot, or yes, even fame . Obviously he struck a nerve with Alan, who is undoubtedly a big Krupa fan. I'm a drummer, and I ,too, am a fan of his playing. But I have to admit that my recollections of Krupa were that he was a drug addict at some point in his life, which I always thought was heroin. I appreciate your setting me "straight" on the facts, but doesn't that just go to show how right Walter's vision is about the depiction of jazz musicians in this world ? I also agree with his premise and hope that some major film player does something to improve the image of jazz and it's musicans in film . Nice article Walter !
Beau Bridges ;-) said 'The Fabulous Baker Boys' ends happily- the movie ends with Jeff Bridges ditching the piano bar world to finally reach his full potential as a jazz pianist. And he wins Michelle Pfeiffer.*** Walter says: That is a great movie and a happy ending!Still not considered a jazz film per se...but I would happily add it to my list. Jazz should take all the credit it can get.
Well done Walter. The"story" of jazz almost always seems to focus on the darkside;drugs,booze, loose woman and poverty. I like your suggestions for movies that make light of things. Bird, Miles, Dizzy,Bill Evans,et al at the peak of there game were as powerful as Bach,Mozart and Beethoven. We need movies that focus on the power of the MUSIC they created, not their private lives. Mozart was a drunk but no one thinks about that when they're sitting in a concert hall listening to his music. Clint; do a "Miles Davis Story" will ya? And make it about BEAUTY, coz Miles was all about beauty. Cheers,Rick Laird
I think Rick is right on point. He is not talking propaganda - he is talking another point of view - focusing on the music. There are enough fictional movies that live on the dark side of jazz. Can't we just try to even things out a bit? Is it the lifestyles of the musicians that attracted us to jazz in the first place? No. It was the music. So you ask how could we see a Miles Davis movie that could be uplifting and celebrate jazz? Easy. We view a young man discovering jazz who follows Miles around but only sees him on stage. We witness his joy through the listening of the music. (If Alan K. wants an R-Rated version - we can see the guy have some sex while "So What" is on the turntable.) Why not a movie about a student musician in a jazz contest? A documentary of the student contest to play at Monterey could be good. On and on.
If Clooney isn't available for "Close Encounters w/the Third Stream" I'll be glad to volunteer my acting abilities for the role. Also, when the cast arrives at the dying planet shouldn't there be a giant statue of J.J. Johnson, Third Stream composer and trombonist extrodinaire? Wonderful stuff, Walter. I hope the obvious point of your very funny article pricks the three principles listed and draws money.
Woody stated in Eric Lax's new book "Conversations with Woody Allen" that he would like nothing more than to make a really great film about jazz. However, Woody typically works with a $15 million budget and he requires total artistic control - yet, if someone were to give him the budget he requires, he knows he could make a great jazz film... but he cautions that he knows nobody will give him the money he would need to do it right. He and Bill Cosby are old friends - they used to do standup in Greenwich Village together. I wish Bill Cosby would invest in a Woody Allen film about jazz. Bill writes the check, Woody produces the film - everybody's happy - and I'm confident that Bill would earn his investment back because the film would have such universal appeal.
I would like to know of a website where I can find jazz events in the Los Angeles/Riverside County area. Thanks
John, Thanks for that new information.