Keep On Keepin' On (2014)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	82:08
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Alan Hicks
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Davis Coombe Alan Hicks
Case	?
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English (Burned In) English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Jazz is a wonderfully expressive musical form which many people find difficult to understand. It relies on intuition and improvisation from the players as they perform, not relying on printed music or a set sequence of notes. One of the greats of this wonderful art form over the past 95 years was Clark Terry, a trumpet and flugel horn player. He was born in 1920 and started working as a full time jazz musician in the 1940s and did not stop playing until he died earlier this year from the side effects of diabetes. He was a member of some of the greatest bands in jazz including the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1940s, Duke Ellington's band and the Quincy Jones Orchestra. He also recorded many solo albums as band leader and on many other musicians’ recording sessions. He is considered to be one of the greatest trumpet players ever and had quite a lot of influence on musicians such as Miles Davis and Quincy Jones (who was his first student). In his later years he decided to focus on teaching other musicians about jazz and helping them to achieve their dreams. Through this process he held numerous workshops and lessons with young players, including in 2007 a young blind jazz pianist, Justin Kauflin. This documentary covers Terry's career quickly but is focused on the relationship between Terry and Kauflin and how they helped each other.

     The documentary includes some interviews with other jazz luminaries to get their views on Terry and follows the course of Terry's illness as his condition worsened, leaving him bedridden or in hospital. Regular visits from Kauflin kept Terry going during the hard times, along with the support and love of his wife, Gwen. She mentions in the documentary the profound impact on his mental state that listening to Justin play, or having a visit from him had. The footage of Justin playing at Terry's bedside and Terry's reaction too makes the impact obvious. It brings light to his eyes and a smile to his face, despite losing his legs to diabetes. During this time Kauflin also gains from the interactions with the jazz great. His mentoring allows Justin to reach the semi-finals of a famous jazz competition and then, as time passes and his confidence grows, to be asked on a world tour with Quincy Jones, culminating in a management contract and a major label record.

     This high quality and emotionally affecting documentary was directed by Australian jazz drummer and documentary maker, Alan Hicks. He also was mentored by Clark Terry during his time studying jazz at William Paterson University in New Jersey. He has received a number of awards for the film including Best New Director at the Tribeca Film Festival.

     If you have any interest in jazz, this film is a must see. Documentary fans will also enjoy its natural emotionality which doesn't dip into sentimentality.

     Recommended.

Video

     This video transfer is very good for a DVD but is a combination of archival footage of Terry performing, amateur video and footage shot specifically for the documentary. The newer parts are nicely sharp and have good colour but feature some aliasing at times. Older footage is variable with some showing macro-blocking and colour issues but nothing more than you would expect. Some footage is 4x3 and/or black & white, however the majority is 1.78:1, 16x9 enhanced.

     There are subtitles available in English for the Hearing Impaired and burned in subtitles for some of the mumbled dialogue especially from Terry. They are both clear and easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

     Generally, this is a good soundtrack although quite front focused. The music is a highlight and sounds good. Dialogue is clear except for mumbled dialogue from Terry but that is not a fault of the soundtrack. The music is mostly jazz piano from Kauflin and some archival footage of Terry performing. The surround speakers add atmosphere and the subwoofer supports the music. The technical specification is Dolby Digital 5.1 and there is also an Audio Descriptive track.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
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Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu features music.

    The US edition seems to be exactly the same. Buy local.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall