Trailer—The Jazz Baroness

source: The Jazz Baroness

This BBC documentary examines the life of Baroness Panonnica Rothschild de Koenigswarter, who left behind her comfortable life as one of the landed gentry and moved to New York in 1951 in search of the lost jazz chord, as personified by Thelonius Monk. Amazing archival footage is fleshed out by terrific interviews with Chico Hamilton, Quincy Jones, and Sonny Rollins, as well as sundry members of the Rothschild family, casting remarkable light on Monk's troubles with drugs and mental problems and the highly privileged yet stifling lives of the British aristocracy. It's absolutely fascinating stuff, even if you're not particularly interested in jazz music (as I am not).

I've seen the Johnson & Johnson heir's film as a behind the scenes look at how the other side lives. Spoiled kids with no conscious of what's going on around them. I love this documentary because it delves into civil rights on all sides and how even tho you may be a part of one of the most important families it doesn't matter where, who or what you love, love can concur all. You get to see a look at how money doesn't buy you happiness, but how it can help people follow their loves. The Rothschild family is somewhat unknown to the American people, but the touch that Micca(sp) put towards using her money and fame towards helping people who are denied racially, people who have drug or alcohol problems, and she looked past that and put her wealth towards the good of a better cause. This film, unlike J&J doesn't make one feel left out, or born into the wrong class, but it shows how one can better themselves and others by taking what they have been given and use it for the better good.

The Jazz Baroness