The Whole Gritty City 2013
Directed by
Richard Barber
Made by
Band Room Productions
The Whole Gritty City Plot Summary
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The Whole Gritty City is a 90-minute documentary that pulls viewers into the heart of three New Orleans school marching bands, offering a close, human look at how music shapes life in a city famed for its rhythm as much as its risk. The film follows bands from O. Perry Walker and L.E. Rabouin high schools, alongside Roots of Music, a newer program built for middle school students, as they prepare to perform in Mardi Gras parades under the steady guidance of dedicated band directors who teach more than notes and timing—they teach grit, focus, and hope.
Among the people who bring this story to life are the young players and their mentors, including Bruce Davenport Jr., Brandon Franklin, and Kirk Dugar Jr., whose journeys anchor the film’s portrait of a community under pressure and bound by music. The Roots of Music program is led by Derrick Tabb, drummer for the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band, whose presence underscores a deeper commitment to mentorship and civic pride even as the city recovers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
As Mardi Gras approaches, the story unfolds through the rigorous grind of practice, the pride of performance, and the personal lives that these young musicians carry with them. Partly through the video diaries the kids shoot with portable cameras, we glimpse their passions, quirks, and private struggles, alongside the louder moments of triumph. 11-year-old Bear is determined to master the trumpet, carrying the weight of a brother who was murdered at 19 and the shadow that loss casts over his family. In parallel, 18-year-old drum major Skully calls out to loved ones he has lost to violence, including the band director who served as a father figure, turning his memories into fuel for the field. Then there’s 12-year-old Jazz, who dreams of following in her father’s musician footsteps even as her mother works hard to hold the family together.
The narrative follows these young musicians as they train, perform, and endure the exacting demands of marching in crowds of cheering spectators, testing their endurance and sharpening their teamwork. The film culminates in a moving moment of communal tribute—a funeral performance by bands from across the city for a young man who belonged to their circle—creating a powerful, shared memory that lingers beyond the music.
This is more than a documentary about marching bands; it is a nuanced portrait of a New Orleans inner city, where music becomes a lifeline and mentors commit themselves with a clarity and warmth that illuminate the potential and resilience of the students. For viewers whose experience mirrors the African American urban landscape, the film offers a heartfelt celebration of community strength and the everyday wisdom of those who guide the next generation. For others, it provides an intimate, empathetic glimpse into a world that can feel distant, inviting audiences to care about the struggles and triumphs of these children and the adults who stand with them.
The Whole Gritty City Timeline
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Three bands anchor the story in post‑Katrina New Orleans
The film follows three marching bands—O. Perry Walker, L.E. Rabouin, and Roots of Music—as they navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Viewers see the bands prepare for Mardi Gras, train their members, and learn how music becomes a lifeline. The focus is on the people, their mentors, and the city that shapes them.
Roots of Music founded and led by Derrick Tabb
Roots of Music is introduced as a new program for middle schoolers, with Derrick Tabb at the helm. The band becomes a vehicle for discipline, aspiration, and community engagement. Tabb's background as a Rebirth Brass Band drummer informs his coaching and philosophy.
Veteran high school bands train alongside Roots of Music
While Roots of Music trains young beginners, the O. Perry Walker and L.E. Rabouin bands also work through their own programs. The training is rigorous, designed to rebuild pride and proficiency in a city rebuilding its identity. The parallel journeys highlight resilience across generations.
Portable video diaries reveal personal stories
Kids capture parts of their lives with portable cameras, offering intimate glimpses into their passions, quirks, and struggles. The footage personalizes the larger story, making broader themes feel immediate and concrete. The diaries connect music to family, violence, and dreams.
Bear confronts tragedy and pursues trumpet mastery
11-year-old Bear is determined to master the trumpet, carrying the memory of an older brother murdered at 19. His drive to succeed becomes a way to honor his brother and find a sense of purpose. The story underscores how violence and loss shape young lives in the city.
Jazz dreams of becoming a musician like her father
12-year-old Jazz pursues music as a path to self-expression, even as her mother struggles to provide for the family. Her ambition is tempered by real-world hardship, showing how family and economic pressures intersect with artistic dreams. Her journey demonstrates resilience through talent and perseverance.
Skully honors loved ones while leading the drum line
18-year-old Skully serves as drum major and shouts out to those he's lost, including the band director who acted as a father figure. His leadership is marked by memory and responsibility, infusing rehearsals with emotional weight. The losses deepen the stakes of their performance later in the season.
The kids train for the big Mardi Gras parades
As Mardi Gras nears, the students endure the rigors of marching and the thrill of performing before thousands of spectators. The rehearsals build teamwork, endurance, and pride. The city’s culture becomes the stage on which they test and showcase themselves.
Parade performances: music as a beacon of resilience
The parades give the bands a platform to demonstrate skill and spirit in front of cheering crowds. The performances symbolize the community’s resilience and the power of music to unite people. The experience is transformative for both performers and audience.
A city-wide funeral tribute for a fallen band member
The film culminates in a moving funeral tribute by band members from across the city for a young man who was one of their own. The ceremony honors the fallen and reinforces music as a means of healing. It binds the community through shared grief and remembrance.
Mentors' unwavering commitment to community
Throughout, the men guiding the bands demonstrate an open-eyed, deep commitment to the community and the children in their charge. Their leadership offers stability in a city scarred by violence and loss. The film presents mentoring as a central force behind both personal growth and collective pride.
Return to culture: resilience and celebration of promise
In its closing moments, the documentary frames the children’s progress as a broader celebration of New Orleans culture. Viewers are invited to see music as a sustaining power that nurtures talent, memory, and hope. The film leaves the city’s streets as a stage for ongoing resilience.
The Whole Gritty City Characters
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Bear (Bruce Davenport Jr.)
11-year-old Bear is determined to master the trumpet and earn a place in the band. He lives in the shadow of his older brother’s murder, using music as a shield and a pathway to a better future. His focus, curiosity, and stubborn optimism illuminate the film’s message about resilience.
Skully (Brandon Franklin)
18-year-old Skully serves as the drum major, leading with energy and a willing heart. He channels grief for loved ones lost to violence, including the band director who was a father figure, into performance and leadership. His dedication reveals the pressures and responsibilities carried by young mentors in the community.
Jazz (Kirk Dugar Jr.)
12-year-old Jazz aspires to be a musician like her father, even as her mother works hard to keep the family afloat. Her ambition underlines the film’s celebration of talent and perseverance amid economic strain. Jazz embodies hope through music, practice, and family ties.
The Whole Gritty City Settings
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Time period
2005-2009
Set in the years after Hurricane Katrina, the documentary captures the post-disaster recovery era as communities rebuild around school bands and music programs. As Mardi Gras approaches, the city’s traditions provide a backdrop for resilience and renewal. The period emphasizes how music and mentorship help young people endure hardship.
Location
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting, renowned for its brass bands, live music, and festive parades. The film centers on neighborhoods where Mardi Gras culture thrives and where music offers opportunity and identity for youth. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the city is rebuilding, and community programs become vital for sustaining culture and hope.
The Whole Gritty City Themes
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Resilience
The film portrays a community and its young musicians moving through loss and danger toward a sense of belonging and purpose. Band directors and students navigate violence, displacement, and poverty while finding strength in practice, teamwork, and shared goals. Resilience is shown as a communal act that sustains culture and hope.
🎶
Music Lifeline
Music serves as a path out of hardship and a source of identity for kids trying to carve out a future. The bands train, perform, and ritualize their progress as a counterbalance to the city’s challenges. The music program becomes a lifeline that educates, inspires, and unites students and families.
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Mentorship
Mentors like band directors provide steady guidance and a father-figure presence in a city scarred by violence. The leaders devote themselves to the children, teaching discipline, teamwork, and self-belief. The relationships illustrate how mentorship builds character and community resilience.
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Grief
The film confronts personal loss—friends and family members who are gone—to violence and tragedy. These experiences shape the students’ songs, performances, and outlooks on the future. Grief is shown as something that, when acknowledged, can deepen resolve and communal bonds.
The Whole Gritty City Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the heart of New Orleans, a city where every street hums with brass and every corner holds the echo of a drumbeat, a documentary follows three school marching bands as they prepare for the spectacular Mardi Gras parades. Set against the backdrop of a city rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, the film captures the vibrant pulse of a community whose rhythm is both a cultural heartbeat and a means of survival. The tone is warm and gritty at once, offering a portrait of a place where music is as essential as breath.
The story centers on two high‑school ensembles—O. Perry Walker and L.E. Rabouin—and a newer middle‑school group, Roots of Music, founded by Grammy‑winning drummer Derrick Tabb. Each band is guided by dedicated directors who see their role as more than teachers; they are mentors, guardians, and the steady hand that shapes raw talent into collective sound. Rehearsals reverberate through school hallways and city sidewalks, turning ordinary spaces into makeshift stages where discipline meets improvisation.
Among the students, Bear wrestles with the desire to master the trumpet while navigating the weight of family expectations. Skully, a confident drum major, channels his energy into leading his peers, hinting at deeper stories that shape his determination. Jazz, a young girl with a dream of following in her father’s musical footsteps, balances her aspirations with the everyday realities of her home life. Their individual journeys intertwine, revealing how the band becomes a sanctuary where personal challenges are met with a shared rhythm.
Through intimate interviews and candid footage, the film radiates an uplifting resilience, celebrating the steadfast mentors and the youthful spirit that keep the city’s music alive. As Mardi Gras approaches, the anticipation builds, hinting at a convergence of personal growth, community pride, and the timeless magic that springs from a collective beat.
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