JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY – Review

Only a couple of days into June and the movies are bombarding us with some nifty vacation options. Let’s see, we just took a wild funny trek to FIRE ISLAND in the northeastern part of the country, so where “to” now virtually? Well, the last one was a scripted twist on the “rom-com”, so how about a non-fiction flick? Yes, a documentary feature (now don’t you whine and cry “Homework?!”), but it’s also a concert overview. In fact, it’s a toe-tapping delight, much in the vein of last year’s Oscar-winner (and crowd-pleaser) SUMMER OF SOUL. We’re still in the good ole’ US of A, but a lot further south and a bit west. And though this on-the-bayou burg is known usually for one type of tune, this film looks at an annual event that’s a celebration of all things musical from all around the world. Let’s get an “ear’ and an “eye-full” of the talents on display in JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY.

The filmmakers were fortunate to speak with the man who was there from the beginning, the fest’s founder jazz mogul George Wein. After his success with the Newport Jazz Festival, Louisana locals contacted him to put together something similar in the “Big Easy”. But in 1962 the still “on the books” “Jim Crow” laws prohibited blacks and whites from mixing at most public venues. But seven years later, JC was history and Wein enlisted an enthusiastic young man, Quint Davis (also interviewed) to run the two-week music explosion over at the Fair Grounds Race Course. The doc then delves deep into the archives to give us an overview of the amazing talents that headlined through the five decades. And of course, many of the current tunesmiths sit down to offer their reflections on performing there, including the doc’s co-producer Jimmy Buffet. The cameras put us right on stage, then out in the vast standing audience to witness the magical connection between the two. We’re also there as the crews put up massive tents and stages, while the chefs and services whip up tons of tantalizing local cuisine (good thing this isn’t in “Smell-o-vision”). It’s an astounding achievement, even more so when the fest returned just weeks after the city was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. But it endures until… the pandemic. The film concludes with its triumphant revival only weeks ago providing not only a “happy ending’ but a continuing showcase for an unstoppable city and its people.

Fifty years of a fabulous fest would be a daunting task for anyone to fit into a 94-minute film, but directors Ryan Suffern and Frank Marshall (acclaimed producer/filmmaker who helmed an excellent recent HBO Bee Gee “bio-doc”) are more than up for the challenge. Unlike the earlier mentioned SUMMER OF SOUL, they opted for a grand “overview” with snippets from dozens of groups, giving us a taste of the fest’s variety, while also scoring some exceptional “talking head” testimony from an eclectic array of talents, along with organizers Wein and Davis. This brings up my only problem (and it’s tiny, I confess). One of the earliest interview subjects is Tom Jones, so naturally, I waited in anticipation for the Welsh “super-soulman” to dominate that stage. Nope. Not even a couple of bars of “Delilah”. Oh well. Ah, but within this tuneful buffet ( a little portion, here, a smidgeon of this), there are real standout “sets’. the archival footage includes the amazing B.B. King and the “re-invention” of Rev. Al Green. Aside from Buffet, there’s Earth, Wind, and Fire and Pitbull’s sweaty, sexy spectacle. Most surprising is the gospel section which includes a church choir backing up Katy Pery (no new interview, though) on “Oh Happy Day”. But even more moving is the “Boss” himself Bruce Springstein saluting the city’s survival from Katrina with “Rise Up”. Happily, there’s a brief history of the town’s ongoing musical traditions, including those funeral marches which are almost topped by the incredible local culinary delights. You may want to make sure you have dinner or lunch before seeing this, although you may wish that you’d indulged in crawfish and gumbo. It’s quite an engaging and compelling salute to (the actual event moniker) the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And if you’re still a tad uneasy with traveling to be with the enthusiastic throngs then JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY will still inspire you to “bust a move” in the comfort of your theatre seat.

3.5 Out of 5

JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY is now playing in select theatres