May 10–17, 2001

movie shorts

Calle 54

(recommended)

Fernando Trueba’s valentine to Latin jazz is longer than it should be, and the expository interludes between songs are so perfunctory they might as well not be there, but this sumptuously photographed concert film still radiates passion and devotion. Gathering over a dozen artists for (mostly separate) performances at Sony Studios on New York’s 54th St. (thus the title), Calle 54 sets each scene with sparse but vibrant colors, even shifting into Gap-commercial black and white for a big band number. Trueba (best known for directing Belle Epoque) sometimes adopts needless stylistic flourishes which seem out of place with the more traditionalist players, though the blood-red backdrop and crane shots fit the exuberant performance by Jerry González, dubbed "the poète maudite of Latin jazz," like a well-tailored zoot suit. The survey course approach, which lacks the communal feeling that made Buena Vista Social Club so outstanding, still yields its gems, most notably a fiery performance led by pianist Michel Camilo, who incorporates flamenco rhythms — and dancing — into his music.

—Sam Adams

(See Philip Booth’s feature article.)

Watch the trailer!