Thunder Soul

Thunder Soul got soul alright!  This touching documentary tells the story of a truly inspired music teacher at Kashmere High School in Houston, TX, who turns the world of high school jazz bands on its head.  Rather than have his stage band play the old tried and true, Conrad “Prof” Johnson composed songs that were downright funky.  And with this bold move he inspired his students to put their souls into it.  He said that the first thing to do is make the students believe that they can do it.  Then, they get to know their instruments.  Then, they can make music.  This is a teaching philosophy I can get down with.

The film includes incredible footage and images of the Kashmere stage band from the late 60’s into the 70’s, and follows the alumni of this prestigious group as they come together to perform a reunion show in honor of their beloved Prof.  Their love for this man has stretched decades and, in many cases, shaped their lives.  If this isn’t a testament to the power of arts education, I don’t know what is.  The question is not how can we afford to offer our young people an arts education?  The question is how can we afford to cut funding for the arts in the schools?

Prof learns of his students’ plan to perform a concert in honor of him just a few days before, while he lay in a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.  Upon hearing the news, he says, “That’s unbelievable.  But, that is believable!”