By Bob Jacobson

"Wild Man Blues", directed by Barbara Kopple, Fine Line Films, 103 min. 1998.

Did you know that Woody Allen plays clarinet? He's been loving jazz since he heard it on a daily basis, growing up in the 1940's. As a kid he took clarinet lessons from Harlem-based Gene Cedric. He concentrates on New Orleans music that he describes as "like an ancient dialect of jazz". That's what he plays some Monday nights at Michael's Pub in Manhattan. A few years ago Allen talked with banjoist Eddy Davis about playing one or two gigs in Europe. Things got out of hand.

"Wild Man Blues", directed by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County, U.S.A."), chronicles a nine-city tour of Western Europe by an Allen-led, New Orleans-style band of seven (see below*). Believe me, the "wild man" does not refer to Woody Allen, who's very low key and nearly as neurotic as his movie persona. He expresses discomfort about speaking to audiences. He'll do so only because they expect it. His take on the concerts is that they should be fun for the band ("It's not fun if it's a show"). The process ends up taking an unexpected turn, however. Allen has so much fun playing that he loosens up to the point of doing a bit of emceeing.

While very modest about his musical abilities (calling it his hobby), Allen practices daily, is really quite good and very passionate about the music. "There's something inexplicable about New Orleans jazz that rings a bell with me"...."It's like taking a bath in honey or something"). Musical director Eddy Davis, who's excellent on banjo, is quite exhuberant in concert, a joy to hear and watch.

Probably less than half the movie is the music. Otherwise you've got Woody, Soon Yi Previn and his sister on planes, in hotels, at official ceremonies in his honor and being hounded by the paparazzi. Back in New York there's a "lunch from hell" with his parents. Some of this would have been fine to get a rounded picture of the man as well as some of his trademark humor. I personally felt it was out of balance.