Keep on Keepin' On

R

Released Sep 19, 2014

1h 26m

Documentary

List

98%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Legendary jazz musician Clark Terry, who taught Quincy Jones and mentored Miles Davis, becomes the mentor of a blind 23-year-old pianist who suffers from crippling stage fright.

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Critics Consensus

Offering keen observations and infectious warmth, Keep On Keepin' On is a joy for jazz buffs and novices alike.

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Jim M

It's both a testimonial to a great figure in jazz and a moving story of the bond formed between an old wise teacher and his young student.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/20

Full Review

Audience Member

This documentary is only for the old souls that LOVE jazz. You have to love it too not just like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Keep On Keepin' On is a beautiful story about friendship and the love of Jazz music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Documentário sobre como Clark Terry, lenda do jazz, ensinou muitos ícones do estilo e continua ensinando, apesar dos seus 93 anos de idade e problemas de saúde. Mostra ele ensinando seu último aluno, um pianista cego. Bom documentário.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An intimate and small scale documentary that chooses to focus on the personnel moments rather than the grand, Keep On Keepin' On is a lovely look into the way music affects people's lives and a fitting piece of memorability for the recently passed away Jazz legend Clark Terry. Without professing to know much or in fact anything about the Jazz scene, Keepin On does a great job at making the audience feel a part of this musical movement thanks to Australian filmmaker Alan Hick's steady direction and Clark's wholly infectious love for the genre of music. Whether watching Clark in finely used stock footage or in his later bed ridden years, his knowledge and passion for Jazz is unwavering and his musical based friendship with blind piano player Justin Kauflin is a touching and poignantly captured relationship that is the heart and soul of this low key doco. Justin is a likable presence and his easy going banter with CT is a joy to behold. It's clear to see that Justin's appearance in CT's life came at the opportune time and as CT begins to lose his vision due to years of battling diabetes the two Jazz loving men bond even tighter over there shared conditions and CT mentoring Justin to become the best he can be is both genuine and interesting. While much of Keepin On feels wholly legitimate and unflattering there are issues that stem from the fact you can't help but feel as in most documentaries that your being ever so slightly manipulated and the fact that long time Clark friend and fellow musician Quincy Jones is the producer of this film, there's high chance elements of this doco are not totally as they seem. As a look at the importance and meaning behind music and friendships based around it, Keep On Keepin' On is a must watch documentary that will be loved by many. It's great to see the strength of the human spirit and endurance on show in such a manner and the talent that these two subjects possess musically is something worth beholding. 3 and a half late night musical jams out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One for all ages. Soulful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Zeba Blay

Shadow and Act

Keep on Keepin’ On is a poignant if slow meditation on music, life, and legacy.

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Wesley Morris

Grantland

[A] moving, observant documentary about the relationship between the ailing 93-year-old legend and master trumpeter Clark Terry and Justin Kauflin, a blind pianist Terry successfully mentored.

Jan 12, 2015

Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Terry's enveloping warmth, wisdom and good nature give the Oscar-shortlisted documentary much of its energy.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 12, 2015

Full Review

Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

Keep On Keepin' On is all about taking the past to inform the present and enrich the future.

Rated: A

Jul 16, 2020

Full Review

Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Keep On Keepin' On is a delight.

Jun 22, 2019

Full Review

Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Keep On Keepin' On is a testament to the power of music and how, in the right hands, it can truly change the world.

Nov 8, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Legendary jazz musician Clark Terry, who taught Quincy Jones and mentored Miles Davis, becomes the mentor of a blind 23-year-old pianist who suffers from crippling stage fright.

Director: Alan Hicks
Producer: Tom Gorai, Adam Hart, Alan Hicks, Adam Fell
Screenwriter: Davis Coombe, Alan Hicks
Distributor: Radius TWC
Production Co: Absolute Clay
Rating: R (Some Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M
Runtime: 1h 26m

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