KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON
SCENE FROM KEEP ON KEEPIN ON - RORY ANDERSON
"You can't do it the easy way, you have to do it the right way"
"There are some guys who are vicious, uptight and evil ... and they SOUND vicious, uptight and evil!"
"If you're going to make a band, have the best people around you ... the right people"
-Clark Terry
Shot over the course of 5 years, KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON was one of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of 2014, landing on the short list for an Academy Award by first-time director, Al Hicks and produced by multi-Oscar winner, Paula Dupre Pesman and multi-Grammy winner, Quincy Jones.
The Film depicts the friendship of music legend and teacher Clark Terry, 89 and Justin Kauflin, a 23-year-old, blind piano prodigy. Kauflin, who suffers from debilitating stage fright, is invited to compete in an elite Jazz competition, just as Terry’s health takes a turn for the worse. As the clock ticks, we see two friends confront the toughest challenges of their lives.
Terry was also Quincy Jones’ first teacher, and mentor to Miles Davis. He is among the few performers ever to have played in both Count Basie’s and Duke Ellington’s bands. In the ‘60s Terry broke the color barrier as the first African-American staff musician at NBC – on "The Tonight Show."
One of Clark Terry's greatest passions was jazz education. In the spirit of Clark, the team of KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON is committed to sharing his positive messages through education screenings, jazz masterclasses and workshops, student jam sessions and Justin Kauflin solo or trio concert.
Bring "KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON" to your community, school, jazz camp or festival!
CLINIC TESTIMONIALS
".... It was clear from the start that Justin had goals to accomplish within the session, offering performance and dialogue that he believed would be most effective with university-age students; and he targeted perfectly ... they made our band room seem like the center of the jazz universe for those 90 minutes"
-Antonio Garcia, Director VCU Jazz
"Trinity students often have the benefit of witnessing music-making at the highest level by visiting professional musicians like Kauflin. It's valuable that students get to interact with the artists so that they realize they are regular people ... an artist like Justin, who is only a few years older than the students, has a particular resonance"
-Trinity Episcopal IB Music Program
"Justin did a fabulous job with the students and I couldn't have been more pleased with the Master Class! He is a natural teacher with his honesty, sensitivity, temperament and ability to inspire. They appreciated the thoughtful comments and practical advice, and felt so inspired after the clinic"
-Liz Barnes, Director Governor's School for the Arts
"If you think you’re having a rough day or can’t escape from whatever hole life has dug for you, Kauflin’s worldview should give you a little perspective... His ringtone is 'Don’t Worry, Be Happy,' for God’s sake"
-RogerEbert.com