Thunder Soul

Directed by Mark Landsman

(PG)

***

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Thunder Soul is a reminder of “the impact that great music can have on both the listener and the performer,” said Alonso Duralde in TheWrap.com. And “while most documentaries are lucky to have one fascinating story to tell, this one has two.” The first is told through archival footage of Houston’s Kashmere High School stage band, which in the 1970s broke from convention to play a brand of jazz-funk that brought it national acclaim. The second is a 2008 tribute concert for former band director Conrad O. Johnson, who was 92 at the time. What the film lacks is the full context of the racial tensions the band faced, said Scott Tobias in NPR.org. These struggles are only hinted at, forfeiting the opportunity to depict the band’s “improbable journey with the richness it deserves.” The film is better when documenting the reunion, as the middle-aged alumni, many of whom haven’t touched an instrument in decades, “face the daunting task of whipping themselves into performance shape,” said Jeannette Catsoulis in The New York Times. These scenes show that while “the power of the tunes remains valuable,” the “legacy of an inspirational teacher” is priceless.