Some people like rock, some like rap and others call classical or opera their very own. But no one likes everything. So how do you get viewers to watch a documentary not in their preferred genre? Easy, you just convey the common denominator found in all great art, and The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit does so without missing a beat.
A detailed outline of the city and musicians who firmly established Jazz in the world, the 90 minute documentary directed by Daniel Loewenthal, oozes passion and doesn’t let up until the end credits roll.
The film begins with a quote from Otis Williams of The Temptations and then continues with images that cut across all aspects of Detroit life; Henry Ford and the car industry, civil rights, racial unrest and the ultimate rise of black culture and society. As the iconic jazz musicians and their musical charm rolls by, we understand this film will also provide a valuable lesson in American History.
Thus, Don Was strikes the first chord and it emanated from his mother’s car radio. Humming the notes of Joe Henderson, he remembers:
“These anguished cries, it was like he was talking to me. And what he said essentially was, ‘Don you got to groove in the face of adversity,’ and it was communicated through the saxophone.”
The procession of present day jazz artists only intensifies the sentiment. Wayne Kramer, James Carter, George Bohanon, Endea Owens, Regina Carter and Terence Blanchard to name a few, the burning fire of these prominent note makers is not an isolated incident. To the sound of the ghetto, the factories and churches, musicians developed an edge, according to Blanchard.
Even at this early juncture of the film, if you have never plucked a string instrument, you would want to learn and join the community. And this doesn’t even take into consideration the manner in which the sounds put a sway in your seat.
None of this took place in a vacuum, though, and Henry Ford gets the first assist. He actively recruited African American Southerners to work in his factories, and the black population of Detroit rose 600%.
Still, oppression wasn’t completely left behind. As imparted in the timeless historical footage, these migrants worked the most dangerous jobs and were all segregated to the same section of the city.
Even so, there was no silencing this community. People started their own businesses, and with the rise in employment, families were able to buy musical instruments to give their children lessons.
So no stopping the inevitable, old grainy footage of the greats, and glamorous nightclub photography, brings us back and begs a seat at the table. Alongside, the flat out cool of the film’s participants and the accompanying musical groove foretells the way art can uplift society. The jazz scene exploded in the black community and ensnared the white community.
Economic prosperity and opportunity one obvious byproduct, the roots of racial harmony were forged. Ron Carter, the Jones Brothers, Curtis Fuller, Elvin Jones and Yusef Lateef leading the charge, their impact represents America’s potential in its brightest form. But happy endings always prove elusive, and the scene was soon faced with more challenges along racial lines.
Of course, the best of the best isn’t just the title. Overcoming is the life blood of Detroit, and the close knit community refusing to relent on screen and in life leads to an unavoidable conclusion. Jazz, especially Detroit Jazz, is for everyone and it doesn’t matter whether the genre suits you or not.
