“I make my living with my lips!” ~ Bleek Gilliam

When I think about all the elements that were involved in me playing the trumpet I count this movie among them.  “Mo Better Blues” is the story of a young trumpet player named Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington).  As a child he was forced to practice as his friends played outside.  In the end it pays off as he grows into a talented and successful musician leading an amazing quintet at a club called “Beneath the Underdog.”  Jazz is his driving force – as he told his girlfriend Clarke (Cynda Williams) “Music is first.  Everything else is secondary.”  Bleek’s other girlfriend – Indigo (Joie Lee) wonders why she puts up with the cocky trumpet player even though her mother warned her that dating a musician would eventually lead to heart break.  His quintet includes the saxophone player Shadow (Wesley Snipes) who believes he should be the leader of the group instead of Bleek and is constantly looking for opportunities to one-up his leader/band mate.  The group’s manager – Giant (Spike Lee) tries to get the group the money they deserve while struggling with a bad gambling problem.

Of all of movies by Spike Lee this is one of my all time favorites.  First off – the acting is amazing.  I’ve seen a lot of movies with musician’s pretending to play instruments and they were all dreadful in that regard.  I remember watching the movie “Angel Eyes” where Jim Caviezel was pretending to playing trumpet.  I swear if the horn made any kind of sound it would have scared him half to death (for the record I am a BIG fan of Jim Caviezel…  he just wasn’t convincing to me).  To avoid that Spike made all of the actors take extensive lessons on their instruments.  He also required them to listen to the music of the jazz greats on their instrument.  The hard work and study shows as each is very convincing.  Bill Nunn played the bass player Bottom Hammond and practiced till his fingers bled.  Denzel looked confident, comfortable and focused in the playing scenes as did all of the other band members.  Jeff “Tain” Watts played the drum player Rhythm Jones (you just can’t fake the drums) and did a great job.  The group also had great chemistry when off the bandstand.  The joking and comradery in the dressing rooms was very believable and had me in stitches.  It also had me wishing I had that same kind of chemistry with a group of cats.

The music was performed by the Brandford Marsalis quintet with Terence Blanchard on trumpet.  It is truly electrifying.  My favorites include “Say Hey” and “Knocked Out the Box.”  Denzel lends his talent of the spoken word on the tune “Pop Top 40” and Cynda Williams sings an original song “Harlem Blues.  ”  Both do a very good job.  After you check out the DVD you will surely run out and buy the movie soundtrack.  I will say this — no trumpet player can listen to the song “Again Never” and have a dry eye after seeing how this thing ends.  If you haven’t seen (or heard) it — check it out.