297. Blue Note Records - Beyond The notes; movie review

BLUE NOTE RECORDS - BEYOND THE NOTES
Cert 15
87 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language

Whenever I hear jazz I love it and vow that I will explore it further and become more knowledgable about it.
Therefore, it was a delight to immerse myself in the story of Blue Note Records and wallow in some great music for an hour and a half.
Blue Note is one of the most important record labels in the history of jazz and was home to artists such as Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Art Blakey in the 1950s and 60s.
Its recent rejuvenation has seen it sign the likes of Robert Glasper, Ambrose Akinmusire and, of course, Norah Jones.
I was fascinated to discover that Blue Note was the labour of love of German Jewish refugees Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff who had fallen in love with jazz in Berlin in the 1920s.
Their background emphasises how their company, which signed almost exclusively black musicians, had much greater depth than any other label.
Aside from making great music, which they considered to be more important than making lots of money, Lion and Wolff saw Blue Note as the chance for the oppressed to have freedom of expression.
Archive interviews with the pair are among much contemporary footage in addition to more modern words from those who knew them and later artists who shared their vision.
The connection between jazz at the civil rights movement and the persecution of Jews under the Nazis is deeply interesting but only lightly played.
Sophie Huber's film is more about the history of a great studio and some wonderful artists.
After watching it, I switched on my Sonos and tuned into some Blakey and Davis. Heaven.

Reasons to watch: Great slice of history alongside sublime music
Reasons to avoid: If you are not into jazz

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Blue Note Records first hit was was Sidney Bechet's "Summertime". It was notable for being issued on a 12-inch 78rpm record instead of the then-standard 10-inch, owing to its length.

The final word. Sophie Huber: "It was my goal to reach a younger audience and make people, especially young people, aware of the incredible value of this music.” She adds, “What really surprised me was that people who didn’t necessarily like jazz, or know about jazz, responded to it really well.” Udiscovermusic.com

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