Comments & critiques on cultural events and New York City happenings.
Monday, May 29, 2023
Doc. BAMA RUSH-Skewed Film that Lambasts Sororities Directed by Rachel Fleit
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Jazz Royalty Charles Lloyd and Gerald Clayton at 222
Last night Charles Lloyd and Gerald Clayton Duo performed for the season finale at 222 in Healdsburg. This swan song for the season was a send off that kept the audience spellbound. Legendary jazz musician, and composer Charles Lloyd, 85 years young, performed an extraordinary set with pianist Gerald Clayton. Clayton (b. Netherlands 1984) is a composer, arranger and award winning recording artist. Clayton on piano paired with Lloyd performing on alto sax. The two combined their artistries for an intricate, multi-layered aesthetic that fused classical jazz and relaxed constraints of blues and classical music for an innovative style that was paradoxically soothing and startling. Lloyd and Clayton both wore loose fitting shifts, knit caps and shades befitting jazz musicians. Clayton has received six Grammy nominations and the Thelonious Monk Int'l Jazz Piano Prize (2006). Lloyd has collaborated with numerous jazz luminaries including Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett and Billy Higgins. Watching Clayton's dexterous fingering on the keys was reminiscent of Monk's unpredictable playing that always strikes an unexpected note or riff with flawless results. Together, Clayton and Lloyd utilized opposing ranges and tempos. Clayton favored higher octave ranges in allegro style while Lloyd embellished in richer, base octaves and an adagio tempo. While both musicians demonstrated their unique virtuosities in long solos, the combination of the two disparate styles evoked a contemplative, somnolent score. Lloyd deferred a majority of the playing time to Clayton while still demonstrating a formidable prowess on his wind instruments and a robust accompaniment on maracas. The one composition in which Lloyd played an alto flute proved his excellent staying power offering a rich, mellow sound. However, for this selection Clayton strummed the strings on the piano which had an alien, other worldly vibe I found discordant. Clayton did all his talking through his instrument and Lloyd spoke only briefly during the program. Lloyd did say, "I live in the music and not comfortable with verbiage." He did share his unrelenting "research trying to find that note that is elusive and makes me feel blessed with the missive of a spiritual life." I felt very fortunate to be in the audience for this intimate and intoxicating evening of transcendent jazz. The final encore had the only recognizable melody; "Somewhere" from West Side Story. I was mystified by this choice to close out the concert but their intelligent interpretation was profoundly melancholy.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Film POLITE SOCIETY-Martial Arts Comedy Drama Written/Dir. by Nina Manzoor
The film "Polite Society" just released on Prime Video is an action-comedy that throws jabs at several genres for a mishmash of scenarios that strikes with force on some fronts and fails miserably to connect on others. The film is written and directed by Nina Manor, ("Doctor Who" and "We are Lady Parts"). The plot spins around an Indian-British couple and their two lovely daughters. Lena (Ritu Arya, "Umbrella Academy") is a high school student with aspirations of becoming a stunt woman and her older sister, played by Priya Kansara, recently dropped out of art school. Lena, is working hard to fulfill her career dream and even harder at coercing her sister to pursue her plan to become an artist. The first half-hour of the film is the most enjoyable as Rena literally drags her sister into sparring with her. Lena also tries to enlighten her traditional and social-status seeking parents of how things really stand. Rena takes on the high school bully in a masterful martial-arts scene that is a big crowd pleasure. The martial-arts fight scenes, social satire and earnest performances by Arya and Kansara are first rate but not worth the long detention of staying for the rest of the belabored film after it takes a low blow to its plot. Lena becomes obsessed with thwarting the impending nuptials. Her sleuthing into the palace where her future brother-in-law lives uncovers a secret lab where nefarious experiments are being conducted on women's wombs. Her sister's future mother-in-law, Raheela (Nimra Bucha) is an evil foil whose on to Lena's attempt to spoil the wedding. Credit Raheela's campy and bewitching performance for making a formidable and humorous nemesis. The scenes in which Raheela's pampering turns to torture, rips new, fertile grounds in villainous comedy. Nevertheless, the sisterly warmth, friendships and powerful performances fail to muster enough strength to maintain its satirical bite throughout the long winded "Polite Society."