An American Songster: John Jackson; Blues Like Showers Of Rain; Jazz Is Our Religion

These three titles use specific and overview approaches to the subject of jazz. The first, An American Songster is a loving tribute to country-blues guitar player, John Jackson. The film interviews Jackson, who is a quiet, unassuming music lover (and guitar virtuoso), as he shyly talks about his early years (the lemon bottle he used for a finger slide, the man who used to sell his family records for a dime apiece, etc.). In addition to the interview footage, there is some marvelous concert footage running from 1979 to 1986, in which Jackson ably demonstrates why he is considered a jazz master. Recommended. The other two titles are difficult to watch. Both films were made by John Jeremy, a gifted filmmaker, who successfully melds a montage of black- and-white photographs with some of the most stirring jazz tracks put to film. The problem lies in Jeremy's socio-political commentary which can be either irritatingly naive, such as in Ted Joans' sophomoric black supremacy poetry in Jazz Is Our Religion, or deeply disturbing, as in the extremely graphic pictures of black men lynched or burned in Blues Like Showers of Rain. This is not to say that reminders of racial injustice don't have their place; they most certainly do. It's simply unfortunate that films which celebrate the beauty and birth of jazz are actually being used as vehicles for social commentary. The filmmaking is excellent, the music is great, but the imagery will certainly disturb many. We leave the decision on the last two up to you. (Available from: Rhapsody Films, P.O. Box 179, New York, NY 10014.)