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New film ’The Jazzman’ takes cues from life of music legend Moe Koffman
By Nelson Wyatt, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Thursday, September 3, 2009

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Canadian actor Corey Sevier who stars as John in "The Jazzman", is shown in this studio handout photo. Josh Koffman’s new movie "The Jazzman" is a gritty and realistic portrait of making it in the music world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

MONTREAL - Josh Koffman’s new film "The Jazzman" will strike a chord with anyone who’s just wanted to get a break in life.

In the case of the movie, which premiered at Montreal’s World Film Festival, it’s John Kadly, a struggling drummer who is dying to show people what he can do.

It’s not easy. Kadly, played with the intensity of a bubbling volcano by Corey Sevier, has grown up in the shadow of his jazzman father Bernie (Michael Ironside).

Bernie doesn’t sugarcoat life. He supports the kid but always pushes him to do better because he knows there are lots of hungry musicians out there.

"I wanted to make a gritty, realistic picture," says Koffman, a big, shaven-headed guy in an army T-shirt and camouflaged pants that reflect his service in the Canadian Forces reserves.

"That’s how it is, trying to make it in this business. It’s really tough. There’s not a lot of breaks and whatever breaks you’re going to get, you’ve got to do it all for yourself."

Koffman’s characters want to be successful but more than anything they want to be heard. Unlike a lot of similar movies where the characters pine for big success, the musicians in "The Jazzman" are happy to get club gigs, to sit in - anything to practice their craft.

"It’s not glammed up but that wasn’t what I was aiming to do," the Toronto-based director says. "I’m not in this business to become some red-carpet-walking superstar. I’ll be happy if I make 25 grand a year making movies."

He knows the music scene well. His dad was a musician. His grandfather was Canadian jazz legend Moe Koffman, who was the basis for Bernie. His other grandfather was Victor Feldbrill, who conducted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the 1970s.

Josh Koffman grew up in the types of clubs he shows in his film. He was even a drummer before he decided to pursue filmmaking as his career.

He chuckles when he’s asked what it was like to grow up in a house full of musicians.

"Loud," he replies.

He based the movie on his personal experiences and acknowledged the demanding, often testy, father-son dynamic is common when parent and child are in the same field.

"My grandfather was a nice guy, the nicest guy in the world," Koffman says of the jazz musician.

"But he was a real perfectionist at his craft. If you’re a musician and you’re playing with him, he’s going to let you know what’s going on. He’ll let you know if you’re sucking."

He said an uncle, who is a saxophone player now, didn’t pick up the instrument until after Moe Koffman died because he was afraid of being an embarrassment.

Josh Koffman says he probably wouldn’t be shy to offer advice to his young son if he ever picks up a movie camera.

"That’s just the nature of the beast."

Sevier, who was born near Toronto, started out as a baby model and turned to acting at the age of seven. The 24-year-old can relate to his character although he says his own life was considerably easier.

"I have a very supportive family so I’ve been lucky from that aspect," he said. "But you run into all kind of let-downs throughout this business so you’ve got to keep your head up, you’ve got to keep trying, you’ve got to believe in yourself."

Sevier, who has appeared on TV in such shows as "Smallville," "CSI: Miami" and "Lassie," said he gave a little advice to the child actor who portrayed his character at a younger age in "The Jazzman" and to the youngster’s real-life mother.

"If you’re going to do it, make sure you love it," is what he says he told them.

Sevier enjoyed John Kadly’s rough-around-the-edges nature and he got a kick out of playing the drums, something he had never done before.

"I had about a month and a half to prepare," he said. "I got a little drum kit and I was banging away in the basement, driving everybody nuts around me but I did my best to get up to speed."

Koffman actually recorded the drum tracks for the movie although Sevier looks pretty comfortable wielding the drumsticks.

Koffman and Sevier will be working together on Koffman’s next film, a dark comedy called "Fortune Hills," but the experience on "The Jazzman" has influenced Sevier in things besides employment.

"I’m thinking about getting a pair of drums myself," he said.

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