Lush Life (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Michael Elias

Writer (WGA):

Michael Elias (written by)

Release Date:

October 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Superb drama about two best friends who play jazz in night clubs. |

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Jeff Goldblum	...	Al Gorky
Forest Whitaker	...	Buddy Chester
Kathy Baker	...	Janis Oliver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Andrews	...	Himself
Buddy Arnold	...	Benny
Valerie Bickford	...	Singer
Frank Cavestani	...	Trombone #1
Don Cheadle	...	Jack
Lois Chiles	...	Lucy
Alex Désert	...	Lester
Pat Distefano	...	Waiter
Ryal Haakenson	...	Pedestrian
Everette Harp	...	Session Leader
Charlie Heath	...	Young Man
Tom La Grua	...	Howard
Laraine Mestman	...	Party Guest #1
Katherine A. Meyer	...	Eleonor
Perry Moore	...	Michael Kelly
Tracey Needham	...	Sarah
Zack Norman	...	Beanstrom
Carlton Lee Russell	...	PeeWee
Jack Sheldon	...	Norman
Ron Taylor	...	Clerk
Nancy Wallach	...	Woman #1
Lee Weaver	...	Harry
Nita Whitaker	...	Dana
Patti Yasutake	...	Doctor

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Birdland Jazz Club, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Chanticleer Films

Trivia:

The musicians seen on screen throughout the film are actual Los Angeles musicians who perform and record film scores, with the exception of actors Jeff Goldblum, Forest Whitaker, Don Cheadle and 'Alex Desert'. Everette Harp seen early in the film at a recording session is an actual jazz saxophonist with a complete discography. Forest Whitaker also starred in another film based on jazz, "Bird" in which he played late jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker who is refernced in this film several times and plays the trumpet in reference to another great jazz musician, Clifford Brown. Lennie Niehaus, the film's composer and arranger's voice can be heard counting down the orchestra in the opening recording session that Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker open the film with. Jack Sheldon who plays Norman, was a jazz trumpet player performing with the likes of Johnny Mandel and Stan Getz.

Movie Connections:

References "The Twilight Zone" (1959)

Soundtrack:

Mysterioso

A superb celebration of modern jazz

This is a real modern jazz movie; there are precious few of those, notwithstanding the efforts of those who have gone before or since. The "buddy" aspect, ala "Brian's Song" is well done, but for me, the energy is in the music, which is given as much rein as a drama from Hollywood permits.This music is mainstream hard bop, superbly performed by Chuck Findlay (trumpet) among others.I believed in the musicians' love of the music for its own sake.

I think it very strange that in the entire history of "modern" jazz, which for most musicologists occupies the period 1942-present, only "Round Midnight" and "Bird" and (maybe)"Giant Steps" address the music in a meaningful way on a par with this film, documentaries and concert films excluded.

One sees clearly that "Lush Life" is a labor born of love, destined to be a largely overlooked made for TV film.