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    Girl from Around the WayMichelle Dean
    10/13/14 3:12pm

    I want to see this film, first because I am a hard-core and lifelong jazz fan, and second because over the years I have become friends with several very well-known jazz musicians. I disagree with a couple of assumptions in this article:

    "There is something disconcerting, though, about the way this movie makes artistry a matter of pure physical effort and practice....But I doubt a healthy sense of competition and physical drive are the sole engines. Perhaps they are the only two elements which can be taught, and thus be the subject of a movie like this one. "

    Playing drums is especially physical, both jazz and classical. Perhaps the physicality of playing drums can be taught, but top-tier drummers have incredible motor skills, many are ambidextrous, and all have specialized exercises to maintain and increase flexibility. I'd argue that that high level of dexterity and motor skills is something that one is "born with". Top-tier musicians are inherently competitive, the audition process makes it so.

    As for the brutality of the mentor / student relationship in jazz; it has it's own historical colloquialism: "being taken out to the woodshed".

    • Some well-known examples: Philly Joe Jones throwing a cymbal at Charlie Parker, after a teenaged Bird botched a solo during "I Got Rhythm". More than once Charlie Parker was chased of stage by laughter and catcalls from the audience.

    • Sarah Vaughan being described as homely, ugly, fat and compared to a gorilla by other musicians and music critics, though the praise for her voice was unanimous.

    • Miles Davis was especially cruel. So cruel, that Herbie Hancock will talk just about anything in his storied career, but his early years with Miles Davis. Miles Davis openly attacked the young Wynton Marsalis in print and on stage. At the Vancouver Jazz Festival in 1986, Miles stopped playing, audibly cussed Wynton out, and would not resume playing unless / until Wynton left the stage.

    If anyone is interested in discovering how nasty and truly awful Miles Davis was as a human being, read his 1990 autobiography "Miles Davis: The Autobiography". In it, Miles has nothing nice to say about anyone or anything: fellow musicians, wives and lovers, and life itself.

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      Cam/ronGirl from Around the Way
      10/13/14 3:39pm

      Davis was jazz's most famous grouch. He especially despised Marsalis who was pretty much a smug, know-it-all back in the 80's. Another famous confrontation that happened after the NYT ran Marsalis' sanctimonious op-ed about what jazz is and what jazz is not: "Are you a cop?"

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      Girl from Around the WayCam/ron
      10/13/14 3:53pm

      Yep. Wynton was truly obnoxious in the early days of his career. Then again, he had been performing professionally since childhood, and already was an outstanding musician for both jazz and classical music. Then, Wynton made the cover of Time Magazine when he was 24 years old.

      I'd argue that most young men, given that much praise and media attention would be assholes.

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    Cam/ronMichelle Dean
    10/13/14 1:56pm

    How many jazz drummers does it take to change a light bulb?

    Five: One to screw the bulb in, and four to talk about how much better Buddy Rich could've done it.

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      Vic Firth's Pepper MillCam/ron
      10/13/14 2:10pm
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    EatTheCheeseNicholsonMichelle Dean
    10/13/14 2:42pm

    Does anyone know when this movie is getting a wide release? I don't live in NYC. I know, what an asshole...

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      lukeEatTheCheeseNicholson
      10/15/14 1:30pm

      It's actually on Vudu right now.

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    Jesus loves youMichelle Dean
    10/13/14 2:00pm

    "you know those awful parties, where two people got in some idiotic fight about who was the next Great American Novelist and nearly came to blows."

    Is this some kind of nerd version of "peacocking?"

    It seems pretty horrible.

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      Cam/ronJesus loves you
      10/13/14 2:03pm

      You don't wanna know what high booze consumption can do to many writers and lit majors.

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    philphilMichelle Dean
    10/13/14 2:06pm

    Well, I'm a drummer for 36 years now, so I think I need to see this movie. We've had countless teary-eyed wankfest tribute movies about baseball, so why not one about learning to drum?

    However, Michelle raises a good point. The brutality and combativeness may have been forced into the script, just to make it a riveting movie to watch, right? No conflict, no story. I hope audiences are bright enough to understand that this is just a story, and not THE way drums are taught. I was lucky enough to have some very cool drum teachers, now that I think of it...

    -First one, from age ten, was a priest, who played in a dixieland band called the Hot Peppers of Jazz. Sold me my first drum kit.

    -Second one, from age thirteen, was a guy in a cover band who taught me about Neal Peart, although he himself looked a bit like Geddy Lee.

    -Third one, from age fifteen, was a guy in a gigging lounge band. Taught me to play what I was hearing on my favorite records. He actually used Devo to teach me patterns for a few weeks.

    -After that, I was on my own, practicing to prog rock in my headphones. Odd time signatures and complex changes kept me from getting bored. (Drums can be really repetitive.)

    ...not that anyone asked.

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      John C. CalhounMichelle Dean
      10/13/14 2:26pm

      I may watch this movie, and I may not. However, Michelle (can I call you Michelle?), please don't be one of those people that uses the non-word "mentee". There's already a word for what you mean: protege.

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        Michelle DeanJohn C. Calhoun
        10/13/14 2:26pm

        good point, editing to reflect.

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      batteurMichelle Dean
      10/13/14 4:20pm

      Professional jazz musicians, of which I am one, are laughing at this film, so nobody get too excited about this as anything but an overwrought piece of melodrama. I've only seen the scenes they pre-released, but they are laden with howlers. In short, the kid can't play the fucking drums, the music is a joke, and this is just nothing like any music education I've ever seen anywhere.

      AND they nakedly ripped off Full Metal Jacket for the "rushing or dragging" scene.

      I blogged a little piece ripping to shreds the Salon preview of the movie, if anyone is interested.

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