[Dixielandjazz] Whiplash

[Charles Suhor]

I saw WHIPLASH last night and was also disappointed, Patrick. The acting was superb, the teach and student being brilliant. But the part of the harassing teacher was over-written to the point of unbelievability, as you suggest. As a drummer I can say that if you practice until the joint between your thumb and forefinger is bleeding, you won't be back playing the next day with the bandaid-and-ice cure. Also, playing superfast tempos isn't best served by tensing up, grimacing and forcing it all out. That's how you take a crap when you're constipated. Relaxation and use of finger control and bounce are a key. I've seen Max Roach, Ed Blackwell, Buddy Rich, and others do insanely fast tempos without breaking a sweat. 

I did enjoy the big band jazz, although my taste runs more to combo jazz in all styles. As for extended drum solos, they can be a bore when they're mere showmanship (read: showing off technique). Well-formed solos, though,are as enjoyable to me as those on other instruments. Max set the standard for taking interesting multi-chorus solos then coming back in on the first beat of the next chorus, with the band following just where he was all the way. Shelly Manne was another pioneer. Innumerable modern jazz drummers have done it ever since, with varying levels of skill. 

I think that the rave reviews for the movie have come from people who appreciated the fine acting but didn't care to consider a reality check on the probability of the events in, or the musical aspects of the film. In comparison, I think that "'Round Midnight" and the much maligned "Bird" were far more touching and real. 

Charlie


 
On Jan 17, 2015, at 5:30 AM, Patrick Ladd wrote:

> Certainly not OKOM but musical films are few and far between so I thought this might be worth some discussion before the purists start complaining.
> 
> This film has just been released here, and may be old hat in the USA but for what they are worth here are my thoughts.
> 
> interesting film and worth seeing. Basic premise is that a music teacher, like that of the filmic  American drill sergeant  will make life hell for his pupils/recruits. He will grind them into dust to eventually make them produce perfection. Much is made of  the story that Jo Jones once threw a cymbal at Charlie Parker and hounded him off stage. This made Parker practice for a couple of years and turned him into a the Charlie Parker we all know and love (or not) Tripe of course. Any drill sergeant that had tried that in my time in the army would have had an accident and any music teacher in the States who operated like that would find himself sacked and sued. Indeed that happens in the film. The teacher loses his position after a students suicide. In revenge he entices the drummer hero/lead student (who gave evidence against him) onto the stage for a prestigious concert, announces a tune and gives the hero the wrong music and he messes up.
> However he storms back onto the stage, starts a solo. Says`”Cherokee” through clenched teeth to the bass player who picks it up as does the rest of the band. Climactic drum solo and all ends in a blaze of glory.
> The drum solo`s are technically brilliant and are all of the speed drumming `hit everything within reach very hard and very quickly `school. They didn`t `speak` to me and neither did the music which is very modern. All brilliantly performed with hours of rehearsal behind them. Just not my cup of tea. My hopes leapt when `Cherokee` was mentioned but unfortunately it was unrecognisable, at least as far as I was concerned.
> My tastes are more for Big Band Swing and this highly drilled up tempo performances left me cold. Impressed but unmoved.
> 
> Any one else have any thoughts ?
> 
> `Birdman` is the next `music` film due for release here soon
> 
> Pat
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
> 
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> 
> 
> 
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com