One Note at a Time

This film is a must-see for anyone who cares about music, particularly Jazz. I had no idea what working musicians face in day to day life and I am left with a new found appreciation for people that are committed to the existence of an art form more then they are of their own well being. Perhaps with films like this one, we can preserve the easily over looked parts of our culture in a tangible way one note at a time.

An unmanipulative documentary that takes an unusual route into the city of New Orleans post-Katrina, via a clinic for musicians. The music is a joy and the characters extraordinary. What a city.

What a beautifully filmed documentary and a wonderful record of musicians who I'm sure if they had not been filmed for this documentary might have been forgotten. The film also tells the story of a dedicated medical team who have devoted themselves to providing medical care for musicians. This is a labour of love by director Renee Edwards.

This film is full of stunning images that set the tone to an inner sadness that underscores this very original take on New Orleans. Though evident throughout this film, Renee's profound love for this great city and its people clearly does not interfere with her acute sense of objectivity. She manages to deal with this soulful subject on so many levels that you are left with a feeling of being in a room surrounded by windows, each with a different view on life. At its core, the film is about the beautiful side of being human and although very little optimism is in play, a warm spirit of hope does quietly emerge. Of course there is an ugly side too, but it is very delicately implied. Just by what you see you can't help thinking about the shocking level of America's indifference for one of its most valuable cultural treasures. Katrina's devastating impact on the featured microcosm is a backdrop that accentuates the resilience of a people with a unique philosophy on life and probably the healthiest approach to mortality. In the end it becomes obvious that Katrina is just another episode on top of countless other trials and tribulations endured by so many generations that created the strength that was so eloquently expressed through music. The endurance showcased in this film allows some hope for the future of New Orleans as a valuable contributor of cultural wealth.

New Orleans music is an embarrassment of riches, but those who make that music are surprisingly little known outside of the city. How do you explain the difference to the uninitiated between "the music business" and those who make music because it's who they are? One Note at a Time does it beautifully in its intimate depiction of the lives, circumstances, and hearts of our national treasures. To know them is to love and care about them, and the more people who are made of aware of them the better chance the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic has to raise the money needed to assist and support the lives of those who give so much to the soulful culture of a great American city.

The film had a profound effect on my husband and me, reigniting our passion for the city and inspiring us to increase our own ongoing support of the extraordinary NOMC. Hopefully that feeling spreads like wildfire as the film reaches ever-larger audiences. The clinic's work is so important and can be a model for other cities and their particular needs.