The Terminal - Spielberg - Benny Golson

[lgoler]

Am I the only person who was disgusted that Steven Spielberg, in the
movie The Terminal, managed to take a great musician like Benny Golson,
and place him in a hotel lounge bar within a RAMADA hotel no less.
Isn't a diservice to the music to show it being played by one of the
greats in a place that is so lowbrow and unworthy? Why couldn't this
scene have showed him playin at one of the New York's well known jazz
clubs? I'm sure NY club would have loved the exposure.

[Fletch]

Post by lgoler
Am I the only person who was disgusted that Steven Spielberg, in the
movie The Terminal, managed to take a great musician like Benny Golson,
and place him in a hotel lounge bar within a RAMADA hotel no less.
Isn't a diservice to the music to show it being played by one of the
greats in a place that is so lowbrow and unworthy? Why couldn't this
scene have showed him playin at one of the New York's well known jazz
clubs? I'm sure NY club would have loved the exposure.

As opposed to not exposing people coming to the film to a great Jazz artist? At least they didn't
make up a fake jazz great.

It's a movie, a fantasy, not to be viewed with a critical eye to such details as this.

Look, any decent gig I am not going to turn down. You underestimate the draw, even at a Ramada, good
music has. And when a great player is booked, everybody wins.

I've seen some truly great talent playing in smaller places. Why? Because they were invited and got
the salary/fees they require. Why not play such a place?

Jack Nickolson used to give aspiring actors some serious advice: Act, take the roles you can get
while you can get them, whatever they may be, because one day they will stop coming.

An actor must act. A musician must play. Venue is irrelevant.

--Fletch

[lgoler]

Your reply is obvious, "thank god jazz is in there". Now go ask a
respected jazz musician what he thought. I'll give you one word
-->JIVE. If they showed a very well respected classical musician
playing in a Ramada, would it be okay? Then why put Benny Golson in a
setting not worthy of his talent? Spielberg should have been more true
to this legend he seemed to be paying some tribute to, or at least to
jazz in general. The story does in fact use jazz as a major part of
the storyline, even if this is only apparent at the end.

Post by Fletch

Post by lgoler
Am I the only person who was disgusted that Steven Spielberg, in the
movie The Terminal, managed to take a great musician like Benny Golson,
and place him in a hotel lounge bar within a RAMADA hotel no less.
Isn't a diservice to the music to show it being played by one of the
greats in a place that is so lowbrow and unworthy? Why couldn't this
scene have showed him playin at one of the New York's well known jazz
clubs? I'm sure NY club would have loved the exposure.

As opposed to not exposing people coming to the film to a great Jazz artist? At least they didn't
make up a fake jazz great.
It's a movie, a fantasy, not to be viewed with a critical eye to such details as this.
Look, any decent gig I am not going to turn down. You underestimate the draw, even at a Ramada, good
music has. And when a great player is booked, everybody wins.
I've seen some truly great talent playing in smaller places. Why? Because they were invited and got
the salary/fees they require. Why not play such a place?
Jack Nickolson used to give aspiring actors some serious advice: Act, take the roles you can get
while you can get them, whatever they may be, because one day they will stop coming.
An actor must act. A musician must play. Venue is irrelevant.
--Fletch

[Marc Sabatella]

Post by lgoler
If they showed a very well respected classical musician
playing in a Ramada, would it be okay?

OK? Sure. Realistic? No. Having I'm not sure the idea of a jazz
musician doing a gig at a hotel is so far-fetched, though. It's not
like we're about the Ramada off the interstate in rural Wyoming. Didn't
look like such a bad gig to me. When I saw Golson a year or so ago, he
was playing a country club. Nothing about the place would make you
think this would be a palce where they might regularly bring in folks
like that, but they do, and it works.

As for asking any well-respected jazz great what he thought, Golson
didn't seem to mind. And I've talked about the movie with many
musicians and this aspect never came up.

---------------
Marc Sabatella
***@outsideshore.com

Music, art, & educational materials
Featuring "A Jazz Improvisation Primer"
http://www.outsideshore.com/

[lgoler]

Oh yeah, and Benny Golson isn't an "aspiring" musician. But maybe you
are, and that could be why it's hard for you to see the difference and
the logic in my statement.

[Fletch]

Post by lgoler
Oh yeah, and Benny Golson isn't an "aspiring" musician. But maybe you
are, and that could be why it's hard for you to see the difference and
the logic in my statement.

No, I am not an "aspiring" musician. I have ove thirty years in the business. How about you?

I know what I'm talking about when I refer to taking jobs. Arrogance is not part of my operational
imperative. I understand what you are saying, but you missed the deeper point of my post, that a
musician has to play. Venue is irrelevant.

If someone is willing to pay my required fee, I'll perform. I do not hold a snob factor in what kind
of work I am willing to take on as a musician, whether it is in the studio or touring. I strive to
maintain a humble and professional attitude and courtesy to know first, that there will always be
someone better than me, and second, that if I think a job is "beneath" me, then it is I who has the
problem.

Just so you know some of what I do in addition to regular performance and concert work, and that I
understand your logic, flawed though it may be...

I go into prisons from time to time to play for inmates, free -- and require my band to donate their
time as well.

I do the occasional benefit show to help those less fortunate than the average person with a job,
free of charge -- and require my band to donate their time as well.

I also teach music for far more reasonable fees than people with less knowledge and ability, even
though I can charge top dollar, because it is more important to teach and share knowledge with
aspiring musicians, to encourage them, than to milk them for as much as I can gain from them.

You do not gain respect by showing disrespect for someone, not knowing their background or
experience. Before you open your mouth and criticise, inquire as to whom you are addressing and
their qualification to make their opinions known. You just might learn something.

--Fletch

[s***@changethisparttohardbat.com]

After some thought, I disagree. Jazz would be great anywhere. Would it
be better if jazz weren't there at all? I think it was great that they
hired a real player to fill such a part in the movie... usually they just
get some pretty-boy actor and stick a sax in his hands with overdubbed
Kenny G. Locally here, I've seen Jimmy Smith at the the Sacramento Inn,
Wynton Marsalis in a Korean Restaurant bar, Stan Getz in a Shriner hall,
etc. Like it or not, jazz isn't only played in Carnegie Hall. Last time
I saw Golson, he was playing a tiny no-name club, probably held 50 people
- it was awesome. If he played the Ramada, I'd be there cheering, not
complaining. Ramada usually has a DJ.

Scott

lgoler <***@gmail.com> wrote:
: Am I the only person who was disgusted that Steven Spielberg, in the
: movie The Terminal, managed to take a great musician like Benny Golson,
: and place him in a hotel lounge bar within a RAMADA hotel no less.
: Isn't a diservice to the music to show it being played by one of the
: greats in a place that is so lowbrow and unworthy? Why couldn't this
: scene have showed him playin at one of the New York's well known jazz
: clubs? I'm sure NY club would have loved the exposure.

[johnebravo836]

Post by lgoler
Am I the only person who was disgusted that Steven Spielberg, in the
movie The Terminal, managed to take a great musician like Benny Golson,
and place him in a hotel lounge bar within a RAMADA hotel no less.

"Disgusted"? You might very well be the only person who was "disgusted".
That's a pretty strong word -- if you'd said "irritated" or "miffed" or
"disappointed" or something along those lines, that might be more
understandable, but don't you think "disgusted" is a bit of an
overreaction? Apparently, Mr. Golson didn't find it to be deeply
insulting, and I don't see why you'd take it that way if he didn't.

Post by lgoler
Isn't a diservice to the music to show it being played by one of the
greats in a place that is so lowbrow and unworthy?

Do you think that maybe you're being a bit overly sensitive about this?

Post by lgoler
Why couldn't this
scene have showed him playin at one of the New York's well known jazz
clubs? I'm sure NY club would have loved the exposure.

I'm sure you'll be happy to orrect me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the
premise of the movie that the guy couldn't leave the terminal? I'm not
aware that there are any "well-known jazz clubs" *in* the terminal. :)