Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

Well made doco' that explains the roots of hip hop, the passion of jazz muso's and the record label founders that recorded them for the love of the music and self expression. You don't have to be a jazz or blues fan to enjoy it but I'm sure it helps. It's a trip from the '20s through to the present. If you don't get jazz, there's a chance you just might after seeing this movie.

There are three parts to this informative but incomplete documentary -it is incomplete because an authoritative history of the blue note record label would require interviews and testimonies from many more of the witnesses and participants. It is informative because it gives enough time to the interviews to be developed. In my view here are the three parts of the piece: 1. it provides a potted history of blue note, its founders, and key participants. Factually informative. I had read about the rudy van gelder studio, but this is the first time I could see it on film and that was nice. 2. around the third quarter of the movie there's an extended piece about a recording with herbie hancock and wayne shorter, which captures many insights about playing jazz, what improvization is really about, and how this is an opportunity to learn about creativity, teamwork, and leadership. 3. The last chapter of the doco connects the dots between jazz and hip-hop in a very nice way - though this was perhaps the weaker theme of the film. Overall a very watchable and well researched piece. I recommend it highly to anyone curious about jazz, hip-hop, and how this connects to popular culture.

If you have any appreciation whatsoever for Jazz, you must watch this movie. I had no idea at all that these two German refugees -- with no real knowledge of music or business -- had started this extraordinary company, one which defied all the norms of the mercenary recording industry. A pleasure from start to finish.