[Dixielandjazz] The Girls in the Band reviewed -Seattle Times, February 14, 2014

[Robert Ringwald]

'The Girls in the Band' a Heartening Look at Ladies of Jazz
by Paul de Barros
Seattle Times, February 14, 2014
On the heels of feminism's second wave, the '80s saw a florescence of books and TV
shows about -- and tributes to -- women in jazz, who had long been neglected, ignored
or forgotten. Now we have Judy Chaikin's celebratory, superbly directed and edited
documentary film on the same subject.
The major strength of "The Girls in the Band" is its abundant, crisp footage of women
playing at the highest level, from pianist Lil Armstrong (Louis' wife) to contemporary
reed player Anat Cohen. With music like this, there's no need -- as there was 50
years ago -- to defend female jazzers.
The music speaks for itself, whether it's trumpet player Billie Rogers (hired by
Woody Herman) blowing up a storm on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Patrice Rushen (whom
Quincy Jones counseled, "you're going to have to be very, very good") wailing on
electric piano, or Portland's Esperanza Spalding doubling down on bass and vocals.
How heartening that as the film moves on speed dial through history, from the bad
old days when women were flat-out unwelcome, it arrives at a place where women are
saying gender isn't a hurdle anymore (never mind that not all would agree).
The film is also candid about what, in part, held women back, explaining that men,
particularly in the big-band era, simply did not want a woman around when they were
telling dirty, often misogynist jokes and/or cheating on their wives.
Some worthy players are omitted -- in particular, trumpeter Barbara Donald and pianist
Patti Bown (who is actually in the background of a shot about trombonist Melba Liston,
but goes unmentioned) -- but a more important weakness is that it doesn't explain
why anyone who doesn't already love jazz and support its women should care, which
will probably doom this doc to the jazz festival circuit.
That's too bad, because it has a smart shape, starting with the famous 1958 "A Great
Day in Harlem" photo, which featured only three women, and ending with a restaging
of that same photo in 2008 -- using all women and three men.
I happen to have been at the shoot, and it was a moving moment, especially when everyone
cheered for the late grande dame of jazz, Marian McPartland, as she got out of her
town car.
If there was ever a moment when the cliche "You've come a long way, baby" was appropriate,
that was it.
    

-B-30
ob Ringwald K6YBV
www.ringwald.com
916/ 806-9551

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours." 
--Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra