Jazz and blues history has many legends. Artists like or who died young or disappeared and only received posthumous recognition much later. Trumpeter Buddy Bolden (1877-1931) is another such legend whose life in Bolden was filmed by director Daniel Pritzker. With his band, the young Bolden was at the forefront of jazz's origins, but he spent the last 24 years of his life in a psychiatric institution.
There are no recordings of his playing and music. That void is filled in moody and reverently by neo-bop trumpet player Wynton Marsalis on Bolden's soundtrack. The grieving blues and syncopated New Orleans jazz make accompanying images almost superfluous and bring to life a brooding The Big Easy of the early 20th century. Precisely by not sticking to tradition and for example accompanying the vocal blues song Make Me A Pallet On The Floor with only cello and a wailing trumpet, the album gains atmosphere. Marsalis comes into full bloom as a trumpet player and arranger on the strong Bolden. (MR)more