Play an instrument, fight sexism.
“The Girls in the Band” wants you to know about the female pioneers of the Jazz and Big Band ages. Through archival footage, interviews and carefully collected stories, you’ll learn about the women that played better than most of the boys. While some groups accepted them, there are plenty of painful stories about the women being rejected on the basis of their gender. While their talents are no longer denied, it’s a pity that we have to wonder about what could’ve been for these musicians.
Herbie Hancock and others spark a modern appreciation of the female led material in the modern day. I love secret histories of artistic talent. Still, the film spends half of its time trying to be an argument against sexism. That’s great, but how about illustrating the talents of these individual female talents. I want to learn about them, not get preached at because some Jazz bands in the 1940s and 1950s were intimidated by a Double X bandleader.
The DVD comes with featurettes, commentary and a trailer as the special features. The A/V Quality is pretty stunning for standard definition. The transfer holds up across all footage. However, the Dolby track makes the musical segments come to life. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 11/3/2015
