'CALLE 54' A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba loves Latin jazz Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz and classical harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States. The two main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian and Afro-Cuban. and, believing that the main function of art is to help people live a little better, he decided to make a movie about his passion for the music. That movie, ``Calle 54,'' is a small treasure, a vibrant love letter to joyful, jubilant musicians and the beauty they create. A guarantee: See ``Calle 54'' and your life - at least for a couple of hours (more if you pick up the soundtrack) - will be enriched, if only for the bounce in your step. ``Calle 54'' will make some people think of another recent music documentary, ``The Buena Vista Social Club The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s. ,'' but the two films really share only one thing - great music. Whereas ``Social Club'' had more of a story arc and a higher calling, ``Calle 54'' is simply Trueba's celebration of his favorite musicians. As such, Trueba puts the music front and center, pausing only for brief interview segments. But words would only get in the way with music that's this good. ``Calle 54'' features 12 musical segments, all recorded on a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of soundstage, and each one adds a piece to the brilliant mosaic that is Latin jazz. Trueba's contribution comes with graceful camera work and bold, colorful sets that give the film a striking visual look. The most memorable example of the film's palate comes during the piece with the late, great percussionist Tito Puente Tito Puente, Sr., (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000 or June 1, 2000 according to IMDb), born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr., was an influential Latin jazz and mambo musician. , who died last June. Puente, his silver curls matched with a white shirt and jacket, performs against an ivory background. His infectious smile, revealing as it does his pearly teeth, only adds to the snow-white setting. Of course, all that just gives the eyes a bit of candy while the ears are feasting on music that has, in many ways, revitalized jazz. The performances are uniformly excellent; everyone will have their subjective favorites. It's hard not to be swept away by pianist Michel Camilo's virtuosity or Puente's ecstatic mugging or the sexiness of pianist Eliane Elias. (Trueba pans from her bare feet bare feet symbol of impoverishment. [Folklore: Jobes, 181] See : Poverty to her pumping legs to her bent shoulders, providing his audience with yet another visual treat.) ``Calle 54'' also includes performances - both separate and together - from the volcanic pianist Chucho Valdes and his equally talented father, Bebo. (Bebo, upon seeing his son, remarks, ``Hey, you're as fat as a toad.'') Saxophonists Gato Barbieri Leandro Barbieri (born on November 28 1934 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina) better known as Gato Barbieri (Spanish for "Barbieri the Cat") is an Argentine jazz tenor saxophonist and composer who rose to fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and from his and Paquito D'Rivera Paquito D'Rivera (born 4 June, 1948) is a Cuban alto saxophonist, clarinetist and soprano saxophonist. Biography Paquito was a child prodigy. He started learning music with his father Tito Rivera at the age of 5, who was a well-known classical saxophonist and conductor in are also featured, and pianist Chano Dominguez displays his lovely ability to blend flamenco and jazz. In a year that has been lamentably la·men·ta·ble adj. Inspiring or deserving of lament or regret; deplorable or pitiable. See Synonyms at pathetic. lam  en·ta·bly adv. deficient in movies with a
passion for anything other than pandering to audiences and making a fast
buck, ``Calle 54'' (which played in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. in one theater
for an Oscar- qualifying week last year) stands as a film that's
extraordinary and alive. Don't call it a documentary. Think of it
as a breath of fresh air.
``CALLE 54'' (Rated G) The stars: Tito Puente, Chucho Valdes, Gato Barbieri, Eliane Elias. Behind the scenes: Directed by Fernando Trueba. Released by Miramax Films. Running time: One hour, 45 minutes. Playing: Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena; Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. . Our rating: Three and one half stars. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Tito Puente, in one of his last performances on film, lights up Fernando Trueba's ``Calle 54.'' |
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