THE PLEASURES OF BEING/ OUT OF STEP – The DVD Review

Review by Kathy Kaiser

What do you get when you combine a love for jazz from a very young age – a prolific journalistic talent – and a civil rights libertarian who will let you know exactly where he stands on any issue, including being pro-life – you get the story of the man – THE LEGEND – whose life of work has touched both the cultural and political sides of our mere existence in this country for over 65 years – NAT HENTOFF.

David L Lewis, a journalistic and broadcast media talent himself for over 30 years, brings the man himself along for this ride – exposing Hentoff’s life’s work – and mostly in his own words – with this new documentary – THE PLEASURES OF BEING/ OUT OF STEP. Stepping into the limelight of his career, Hentoff emerged as the Jazz critic of all critics, being named The Jazz MASTER and gaining fame and recognition by the musicians he critiqued – how often does that happen?  Interviewing Jazz talents like Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, even the 60’s alternative artist, Bob Dylan, bringing their talent and music to the mainstream, Henhoff became beloved for his own “alternative journalistic style”, and innate way to transform any musician’s music and life, just by covering their music. From his one line critiques, to his inexhaustible and high-volume explanations of their work, strategically placed on the back of their album covers, Nat Hentoff became “the voice” of generations of Jazz musicians the world over – bringing this music and its significance in our society, to light.

As much as Jazz was a part of Nat’s life, so was having the ability to express his views and thoughts as it pertained to many civil rights issues from the 1940’s through the 1980’s – which he published as a contributing writer for such publications as Down Beat, The Village Voice, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and the Washington Post. These outlets gave Hentoff the opportunity to shape more than one cultural revolution with his alternative views and heavy handed penning, professing and reminding each of us, of our unalienable right to the 1^st amendment in this country – freedom of expression – which Hentoff never wavered from. This film also makes a point to let you hear about the man and legend through the words of the individuals who were along for the ride of Hentoff’s creative passions – including stage presence and funny man Lenny Bruce, his second wife and greatest fan Margot, First amendment Council Floyd Abrams, fellow journalist and editor of the Village Voice, Karen Durbin, and writer Amiri Baraka.

Even if you have never listened to Mr. Ellington’s music, or have been intrigued by our countries Civil Rights movements, the Aids epidemic or ROWE vs. WADE, it doesn’t matter – you need to see this documentary. Pleasures of Being Out of Step is a true masterpiece –Nat Hentoff and his life are truly fantastic documentary material, and Lewis did a superb job of bringing the man, and his effect on our society over decades, to life. Fascinating and Intriguing is how I would describe this film of how one man, and his vision, can change countless lives and aid in breaking down cultural stereotypes to become the voice of reason – this is NAT HENTOFF ‘s story.