Say the phrase “Blue Note Records” to almost any music fan, and you’ll be met with a look of reverence and appreciation. The 80-year-old label has released some of the most important jazz records in American history, and a new Sophie Huber-directed documentary (Blue Note Records: Beyond The Notes) only adds to the imprint’s near-mythical aura.
More than a drooly adoration of Blue Note, Huber’s film goes beyond the label’s origins and tells of its rich history with a narrative and polish that’s almost as impressive as the Blue Note catalog itself. The best part is that it doesn’t try to water the genre down in an attempt to reach casual music fans.
The film saw theatrical releases on both coasts on June 14, but Tampa Bay will get two chances to see it in perhaps a more fitting setting when the Listen Up Film Series stages screenings at Hideaway Café in St. Petersburg (July 8) and Hooch and Hive in Tampa (July 9). Tickets to the July 8 screening with be $6 ($5, plus a $1 service charge), and the St. Petersburg affair will be complemented by a set from the Paul Gavin Trio. Admission to the Tampa screening is free with registration.
Watch a trailer below, and get more information on the screenings via daddykool.com.
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This article appears in Jun 20-27, 2019.