Vague Visages’ Not Not Jazz review contains minor spoilers. Jason Miller’s 2024 documentary features Billy Martin, John Medeski and Chris Wood. Check out the VV home page for more film reviews.

Jason Miller’s Not Not Jazz is one of the most niche documentaries out there. It’s as freeform as the groovy, avant-garde music that Medeski Martin & Wood (MMW) make. The band members include Chris Wood on bass, Billy Martin on drums and John Medeski on keyboards. Not Not Jazz follows the jazz fusion group as they record a new album at Allaire Studios, a gorgeous 1920s-era estate nestled on a mountain in the Catskills. Viewers get an inside look at MMW’s unique approach to music and personal dynamics, shaped by two decades of collaboration. But only true fans — or lovers of the jazz genre as a whole — will be able to fully appreciate Not Not Jazz.

The tranquil setting, often shown in sweeping drone shots, provides a beautiful backdrop for the musicians as they work on their craft. Some of the most intriguing scenes take place when the band takes their instruments outside to play in nature, immersing themselves in serene beauty while tapping into their creative power. Medeski Martin & Wood not only play their cello, tambourine and organ but also a variety of other instruments to create an ambient, ethereal sound.

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There are several talking head interviews in Not Not Jazz where the band members reflect on the closeness they’ve developed over the years, sharing both their music and their lives — a relationship they describe as almost like a “marriage.” This bond is just as fragile, if not more so, requiring a delicate balance of diverse personalities and exchange of ideas.

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The majority of Not Not Jazz showcases Medeski Martin & Wood’s fluid jam sessions. These scenes, shot in black and white, focus on the purity of the creative process, whether the subjects are in the recording studio or riffing together outside. Miller also provides little, everyday moments where the members of Medeski Martin & Wood connect on a personal level, such as when they pour their morning coffee. Not Not Jazz allows the audience to be a fly on the wall, quietly observing the band’s repartee and artistic flow as they experiment with their sounds, searching for an elusive spark of inspiration. It’s rare and exciting to see artists in the precarious, sometimes lengthy, process of making their art. 

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Miller has a keen eye, giving Not Not Jazz a visual flair by not only flaunting the gorgeous setting in wide shots but also using slow motion to allow viewers to truly examine all the physical intricacies that go into the creation of MMW’s distinctive sound. The director studies his musical subjects with as much care and dedication that goes into the transcendent music the band creates. Miller’s documentary will likely bore viewers who are unfamiliar with Medeski Martin & Wood, but Not Not Jazz is still a worthy tribute to what makes the band members such singular musicians.

Not Not Jazz released digitally on August 9, 2024 via Oscilloscope Laboratories and MVD Entertainment Group.

Caroline Madden (@crolinss) is the author of Springsteen as Soundtrack. She’s also a film critic who has written for Screen Queens, Reverse Shot, IndieWire and more. Caroline is the editor-in-chief of Video Librarian.

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