In My Mind

 

Story:

Not your run-of-the-mill concert film here as prodigy composer Jason Moran revisits and interprets bebop pianist Thelonious Monk’s historic 1959 Town Hall big band concert. Commissioned by Duke University, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Chicago Symphony Center, and the Washington Performing Arts Society, Moran sifts through photographs from Duke’s Jazz Loft Project and audio recordings made by Eugene Smith to present the life, times, and music of North Carolina’s jazz giant. Mash-ups are hot these days, and the mixed media Moran gives us on all things Monk, captured by filmmaker Gary Hawkins at the Center for Documentary Studies, is way hip, a big Rootie Tootie. (Full Frame)

Review:

Your love for Gary Hawkins’ In My Mind will very greatly depending on your love of jazz. The film is quite the technical marvel, combining a polished look with a sleek rhythm to embody the essence of both the performance and the material. The characters themselves are engaging, active and honest. But your ultimate appreciation and acceptance of this documentary isn’t about those aspects, it’s about the jazz, and if you can’t enjoy the music, nothing else this film does right is going to save you from boredom.

For those interested in a learning about Thelonious Monk’s work, this isn’t the film to see. While it certainly highlights moments of his life and provides a few notable stories prior to his 1959 Town Hall big band concert, there is very little information about him. There’s also not a whole lot about Jason Moran or his desire to revisit and interpret the this particular bepop composition. In My Mind is really a film for avid lovers of the art, who already appreciate Thelonious Monk and want to see a modern retelling of his work. In other words, if you don’t know before watching this documentary, you probably won’t know afterwards either.

But for those who do know, boy are you in for a treat. Imagine getting a chance to listen to a great concert and then getting the opportunity to sit down with talented musicians to discuss their craft. That is exactly what In My Mind is all about. It promises and delivers on both levels, giving audiences a front row seat to it all. Jazz fans will be caught up in the excitement, power and energy of the musicians and their stories. It is a perfect example of witnessing how music can be alive in all of us.

Additionally, Hawkins’ film just feels like a jazz piece. It plays like one, blending visuals and interviews seamlessly and occasionally teasing audiences with oddly framed shots before snapping everything into perfect order. Even those who don’t appreciate the film can attest to Hawkins’ dedication to the craft.

But again, this is only a film for jazz fans. If you only know Kenny G, this certainly isn’t the film for you. Though it hooks most people in early, few will be able to grapple with the subject matter and even more will find themselves dragging through the last half.

Reviewed by Matthew Abshire for Documentary Film Online on April 23, 2010

In Conclusion: