What the previous reviewer failed to mention is that this great movie is about BUD POWELL's life after he moved to France in 1959 due to his continuing health and mental problems. Powell, next to Monk, was the greatest jazz pianist in history, and is portrayed perfectly by tenor sax great Dexter Gordon. By the end of the film, I was left wondering what could have been for Powell. How much more of a brilliant career could we have seen ? Miles Davis always claimed that the electro-shock treatments that Powell received in the 1950s during his various stints in mental sanitariums, robbed the great pianist of his creativity and musical genius. Whatever the case, Powell joined the long list of sad endings to great, great jazz careers. Charlie Parker, Brownie, Lee Morgan, Eric Dolphy -- the streak of tragedy and greatness cut short runs like a bright orange thread throughout the history of this fine music.
If you are a jazz fan, this movie truly is required viewing. If you are music fan, I suggest you give it a try. A moving piece.
If you are a jazz fan, this movie truly is required viewing. If you are music fan, I suggest you give it a try. A moving piece.