Saturday, October 4, 2014

Doc. on Jazz Legend Terry Carter "Keep On Keepin On" Inspirating to Infinity & Beyond

Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock & many others honor Terry Carter (TC) as the greatest jazz trumpet player to have picked up a horn.  As 1 of 11 children born into a very poor neighborhood in St. Louis.  TC at a very young age was so impassioned to play a trumpet, he assembled an instrument from lead pipes, & flotsam jetsam taken from the local dump & played his heart out.  The neighbors couldn't tolerate the abrasive noise & scrummaged together $12 to purchase him a trumpet from the local pawn shop.  Thus began a lifetime of love & dedication to performing & mentoring of music.  The countless other jazz artists in the film sing praises not only for his talent but for the man & his life.  This winning, heartwarming & inspirational doc. spans TC's illustrious career.  More importantly, the camera captures the loving mentoring of TC to Justin Kauflin, 20+ jazz pianist prodigy whose been blind since age 6.  Mr. Carter, now in his 90's, has dealt with diabetes for over 50 yrs.  The disease recently cost TC his eyesight & both his legs.  Still, this is a doc. that is a heartfelt tribute to determination, support, kindness, love and of course jazz.  What comes blazing off the screen is the love & respect between TC & his wife Gwen, the love they have for Justin and Justin for them & how this keeps the love & support for others paying forward.  Justin says "Thank you so much CT, for everything."  I watched this film & it touched me more than I can express.  I thought to myself, what a wonderful human being; what a wonderful world.

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