Documentaries tell you the story of a person, an event, or a culture. An hour or so later and it’s done its job. Perhaps you learn something. Perhaps it gives you another perspective on a person, event, or culture that you hadn’t considered before. Some documentaries do this very well, a lot don’t get much deeper than the chronology of the person, event, or culture.
Then there are few exceptional documentaries that not only tell you the story of a person, event, or culture, but also get under the skin and reveal to you the more visceral, and perhaps more important emotional relationship aspects of the main character. Such a documentary is “Keep On Keepin’ On,” the title of the recently released film focused on the life of famed trumpeter Clark Terry.
In the jazz world, Clark Terry is a revered icon. Born in poverty he lifted his trumpet to a high level and ultimately lifted his status as a premier musician to the highest levels. He recorded a multitude of albums, including the highly popular “Mumbles” which can be found on the album “Oscar Peterson Trio + One Clark Terry.”
But in context this is the least of it. What is revealed in “Keep On Keepin’ On” is Clark Terry’s humanity and his overflowing trait to share his hard-won musical knowledge with others, particularly those of the younger generation. In other words, in addition to becoming a superior trumpeter, he also evolved into a first-class mentor.
In fact, his first mentee was a very young Quincy Jones—and look where Jones went with his career. Not only is Jones a featured focus of the film, he is also a lead producer. The very private moments between Clark Terry and Quincy Jones in Terry’s Arkansas home are both intimate and touching.
But Jones is not the significant musical other counter-point to Terry’s story. This person is Justin Kauflin, now 27, who has been blind since age 11. Clark Terry became acquainted with Kauflin when he was studying at William Patterson College. The relationship between these two musicians—an age difference of over 60 years—evolved into more than just a professional exchange. It became a friendship founded on the mutual respect and, yes, love, between these two artists.
But there’s more to this story. During the course of the documentary we learn of Justin’s eyesight problems at a very young age and ultimate loss of all his sight at age 11. We also learn—and see first-hand—of Clark Terry’s battle with diabetes, his failing sight as a result; and the ultimate loss of both his at age 93 from the disease. Here, then, are two musical artists with serious physical challenges who share their pain with each other, but encourage each other to “keep on keepin’ on.”
There is a scene in which Kauflin is performing at the Thelonius Monk piano competition. He is in contention to become one of the semi-finalists. He doesn’t make it primarily, he reveals, because of his stage-fright. He just can’t get to the deeper aspects of his playing. Kauflin communicates with Terry who conveys that important mentoring concept of “keep on keepin’ on.”
The last part of the film underscores this concept and the importance of timing and being in the right place at the right time. Both Kauflin and Quincy Jones are present at Clark Terry’s home at the same time. Terry encourages Jones to listen to Justin play. The result: Jones sets up a world tour for Kauflin (including the Montreux Jazz Festival) and an inaugural recording. The Quincy Jones organization now represents Kauflin and his quartet.
“Keep On Keepin’ On” is not just about artistic evolution, it is also about dealing with physical and emotional pain, and finding the wherewithal to deal with what life throws you. It is also about relationships and people’s need for other people, without which no one would succeed. The key is everyone needs a mentor—even at every stage of life. “Keep On Keepin’ On” is a beautifully shot and edited piece of storytelling that lives well below the surface of “This is what he did in his life,” or “this is what happened.” “Keep On Keepin’ On” is not just for musicians, it is for anyone seeking to fully actualize their life.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other of my blogs, please write to me at meiienterprises@aol.com
Eugene Marlow, Ph.D.
October 13, 2014
© Eugene Marlow 2014