Trying To Get Good – The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon

Directed/Written: Doug McIntrye and Penny Peyser

By Rowan Harrison

Another night at the Lido, and this time it’s to a sold out show, with 80 percent of its attendees over forty, and believe me they can be a rowdy bunch.  What has to be one of the more interesting of the two documentaries I had privilege to see, with archival film footage and stocked photo stills, comes the talented, humorous and almost tragic story of legendary west coast jazz artist, Jack Sheldon.

Not being a regular listener of the only original American art form, Jazz, and only having a handful of music from this genre in my collection. This was definitely and eye as well as an ear opener, for one of the traits I enjoy about jazz which is the free form melodies or ballads, like Miles Davis’s, Round Midnight and trumpeter Sheldon has plenty to choose from.  Just listen to Sheldon’s contribution to the 1965 film “The Sandpiper.”

Trying to Get Good, documents the versatile artist by taking us back to Los Angeles during the fifties, post war America.   It’s here in the city of Angels that Jack’s mother acquired a job as a swim teacher in Hollywood.  Although born and raised in Florida, he always considers Los Angeles his town, and is perfectly at home in Hollywood, “its slower pace of people that’s what separates the west coast from the east coast.”

Playing as a regular at Dante’s Night Club on Lankershim, and being influenced by giants of the time such as Benny Goodman and Chet Baker, Sheldon becomes a well respected player within the Jazz circuit, and it is on the stage that “everything is worthwhile.”  This is where he also finds his personal outlook, “Jazz is freedom, there are chords you don’t have to stick to, but complete freedom in life.”

According to contemporary jazz musician Chris Botti, Sheldon had “his own way of approaching the trumpet, full of mood, drama and romanticism.” Yet this was just one facet to his artistry, because when he wasn’t playing he was noted as a wonderful vocalist.  Having a good vibe to his voice, while never sacrificing pitch he became a balladeer, within the same ranks as a Sinatra or a Bennett.  Don Deluise remembers Sheldon’s voice as “a voice that is not refined but effortless.”

There are many wonderful qualities about this film, but the most important is the good amount of performance footage, capturing the depth of Sheldon.  Which is one of the most important aspects when documenting the life of any artist, it’s the moment of creativity or performing that captures the spirit of his or her craft, and the film does well on this aspect.  

Interesting to note the many celebrities and entertainers that were in Sheldon’s life, Billy Crystal, Don Delouise, Clint Eastwood, and of course Merv Griffin, all contributing to the off beat and sometimes vulgar personality of Sheldon.  A giant in music history, he is an artist not fully recognized for his contributions, until now and simply like any other artist, just trying to get good.