So it is with the movie "Thunder Soul," a documentary that centers around the career of musician, composer, and as the film details his most impressive assignment, Kashmere High School band director Conrad "Prof" Johnson.  

While the stage bands of his era were presenting music that was a continuation of the 30's & 40's Big Band tradition, Prof Johnson was listening to what his students were listening to:  James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, and later Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and The Commodores. He began writing the music his bands would perform at contests, and suddenly this turbo-charged band would blow their competitors clean away.  The music, the choreography, the showmanship, the soloists; the band was the complete package.  Other bands entering stage band competitions quickly realized that they were fighting for 2nd place, because Kashmere would be a lock for the top prize.

After establishing Mr. Johnson's credentials, the centerpiece of the movie becomes the reunion concert, which will in turn be the centerpiece of a tribute to Prof that he will attend.  We see that his influence extends beyond the band hall, and it becomes apparent that as great as his musical legacy is, it's his strong North Star-like solidity that has likely saved the lives of many students.  Some haven't played their instruments in 20-30 years, but that part of it almost doesn't matter.  The fact is that none of these students would be where they are today were it not for Conrad O. Johnson.

Growing up in San Antonio, and later in Dallas, we knew of the Kashmere Stage Band, but it wasn't until 1992 that I first met the man.  He became a guru that I would visit occasionally:  To learn his pedagogy of jazz improvisation---to figure out how to make the sax "cry" in the show "Jazz & Poetry."  When my theory book was published I hand-delivered a copy to Prof.  He flipped through it, said a few nice things, and then looked me dead in the eye:  "Kelly, are you getting paid?"  I told him I would be receiving my first royalty check in a few months.  He asked me to bring the check as soon as I received it, and of course I complied.  He told me of a book he had gotten published---"I never made a nickel.  I just want to make sure someone out there is getting paid!"

My favorite times were working alongside him at the Summer Jazz Workshop.  His techniques initially seemed like cheating to me.  He would give the students "the good notes" and tell them to stick with those for their first solos.  It took me a while to realize that although knowing what to play was important, getting up on stage and actually playing was where the excitement was.  That was what would hook students for life.  Get them in front of an audience, and they will always come back for more.

I saw so many familiar faces in Thunder Soul, some of whom I actually have had the privilege of working with.  I spotted guitarist Joe Carmouche in a scene.  Trumpeter Barrie Lee Hall was a colossal influence on me, and although he is just in the background of the documentary, members featured in the film concurred that BLH was a crucial part of the performance.  One nice surprise for me was bassist Gerald Calhoun.  In the late 70's-early 80's there was a night club in Dallas called Popsicle Toes.  Two bands took turns doing two week stints there, Buster Brown & Phyrework.  My friends and I would use our fake ID's to see both bands as often as possible, and would often argue about which band was better.  Ultimately though, someone would pull out the trump card:  "Yeah, but Gerald Calhoun is the bass player in Phyrework."  Argument over.  All of us who would make those trips to Popsicle Toes are still playing music, teaching, or somehow still connected to the music.  Little did we know we'd just had our first connection to Conrad Johnson.  I was fortunate to be able to thank Gerald personally, right outside the theatre.  In fact, several of the key figures in the documentary were on hand for an impromptu meet & greet after the show, as well as one of Conrad's granddaughters and his son.  They are working passionately toward getting the word out about this effort.

The single biggest musical contribution came from drummer Craig Green.  Today I know Craig as my daughter Olivia's jazz band teacher at Johnston Middle School, but this film shows that he continues to be a formidable musician, and all truly great bands begin and end with their drummer.  Mr. Green took up the torch that Prof carried, and has continued the legacy of educating numerous current and future superstars.  Perhaps what has gone on at Chimney Rock & Willowbend will be a sequel to this.  It's worth a look.

As I begin my third full-time year as a music instructor, I realize that it has begun to consume me, and not necessarily in a bad way.  I try to bring the joy of music to every student who comes into my classroom.  I succeed and fail at that task every day.  I enjoy the successes, I obsess about the failures.  It's what wakes me up at 4:30am, my mind trying to comprehend the Rubik's cube conundrum of why someone wouldn't want to play music.  More often than not it comes down to what Prof kept trying to tell me:  It's the performance, stupid.

Thank you everyone involved in this project.  It's so gratifying to see this story receive the attention it so richly deserves.  I have this vision in my mind that not only will this movie receive a nomination for an Academy Award, but the band will once again reunite on the Oscars stage.  And it shall be funky.