How I became involved in the Birmingham jazz scene and why you should too!
By Greg Hendrick- Producer of 'So You Say You Play Jazz?'
I've recently been blessed with the opportunity to combine my two loves, filmmaking and jazz, into a forthcoming documentary, “So You Say You Play Jazz? José Carr's True Story”, which centers on the local jazz scene in Birmingham, Alabama, and the man responsible for keeping it alive – trumpet player José Carr. My good friend and co-worker, Matthew Bellisario, a devoted jazz fan and vinyl aficionado, stumbled upon this little, hole-in-wall brewery located in a non-descript strip-mall on a rainy Tuesday night several years ago and sent me an urgent message: “Watching live jazz at True Story Brewery, get over here right away, it will blow you away!” And it did. I've been a regular ever since. My week feels incomplete without it. It's by far Birmingham's best kept secret. And it's free. No cover; a fact that I still find hard to believe, being that José's Tuesday night jazz jam produces some of the best live jazz south of New York City, north of New Orleans, and everywhere in between.
When you first arrive at True Story, you'll make your way to the side room housing the corner stage, and may feel like you stepped onto a movie set from another era, perhaps the late 60s, perhaps Greenwich Village, perhaps a Kerouac novel, with characters bobbing their heads, some with scarfs, Some with cowboy boots, some with fur coats, all digging the music and fixing their eyes on the frontman – in this case, our Alabama Jazz Hall of Famer, José Carr, a manifestation of everything fans love about jazz; the virtuosity, coolness, swagger, the mad skills... skills that will leave you breathless. You're witnessing art; a dying art. And there's something magic in it. There's wisdom. There's truth. There's beauty. There's love. And you are part of it. You're not sure what it means, but the 32nd note runs blasting from José's trumpet like fireflies hitchhiking a ride on a rocket is transporting you to unfamiliar places. Places you want to return to. Again and again.
When Matthew had the idea to film a documentary about the Birmingham jazz scene, focusing on José, focusing on the music, focusing on its impact in Birmingham, with the goal of preserving it for future generations and inspiring younger generations to keep jazz music alive, I knew right away it would be a powerful and impactful project, and I was grateful to be a part of it. As a producer, I was able to watch with great joy and admiration, how Matthew, over the course of nearly two years, and hundreds of hours of footage (shot and edited by the talented John McCarthy, a blessing who spent countless hours finding the heart of the story and honing in on it), set out on a mission to capture not only the local jazz scene today, but examine the history and roots of Birmingham jazz music, and emphasize the value and need to preserve it, and spread the word.
Our goal and hope is that it will inspire you to be part of it. Who knows, maybe you'll pick up that saxophone that's collecting dust in the attack, maybe you'll start tapping the keys, maybe you'll start scatting while you're stuck in traffic (as I now do... and not only in traffic... just ask my co-workers... actually, please don't).
It all comes down to this. Jazz is family. And it loves and accepts all members. And there's beauty and unity in that, especially in a world that's doing all it can to divide us. So come on down to True Story Brewery on a Tuesday night. You can catch the documentary on May 9th , but if not, all good - José Carr ain't going nowhere! So come on by whenever you can. Join the Birmingham jazz scene and help keep this rich tradition alive.
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