Jazz On A Wave

Bob Merz

LOGLINE
In the racially charged atmosphere of 1949 Los Angeles, the electrifying jazz scene of Central Avenue, anchored by John Dolphin’s groundbreaking record store, unexpectedly ignites a cultural collision with the sun-drenched, rebellious world of Southern California surfing, forging an unlikely alliance between musical legends and wave-riding youth determined to break down societal barriers.

SYNOPSIS
Los Angeles, mid-summer, 1949. South Central Avenue throbs with the syncopated rhythms of jazz and the burgeoning sounds of Rhythm & Blues. "Dolphin's of Hollywood," a vibrant record store sanctuary for Black musicians and their devoted fans, stands at the epicenter. Within its walls, also housing a radio station and recording studio, luminaries like Duke Ellington, with his sophisticated cool, the enchanting Ella Fitzgerald, the smooth Nat King Cole, the electrifying T- Bone Walker, and the gospel prodigy Sam Cooke grace its intimate stage.

Meanwhile, miles away on the sun-kissed shores of Santa Monica and Malibu, a different kind of revolution is brewing. Post-war Southern California is the playground for a new breed of youth. Figures like the innovative Bob Simmons, the daring Les "Birdman" Williams, the big wave pioneer Buzzy Trent, the meticulous Joe Quigg, and the elegant Matt Kivlin are pushing the boundaries of surfing. Among them is Nick Gabaldon, a young African-American surfer who braves the prejudice and segregation of the era, riding the waves at segregated Inkwell Beach, then paddling north 12 miles to Malibu's more challenging breaks, a stark visual representation of racial division in paradise.

These young surfers, fueled by youthful exuberance and a thirst for freedom, are instinctively drawn to the magnetic pull of Dolphin’s. The intoxicating melodies spill out onto Central Avenue, luring them into the record store’s vibrant embrace. They are immediately captivated – mesmerized by the pure tone in Ella Fitzgerald’s voice, the infectious energy of Duke Ellington’s band, the sheer cool of it all. Dolphin's is more than a store; it’s a community, a haven, a place where the color lines of 1949 Los Angeles begin to subtly, tentatively, blur.

Through late-night jam sessions, recording sessions, impromptu beach concerts, and the simple act of enjoying each other’s company, an unexpected bridge is built. Dolphin's becomes a unique melting pot, where the complex harmonies of jazz and R&B intertwine with the primal rhythm of the ocean waves crashing on the shore. Black musicians and White surfers, despite their vastly different backgrounds, find common ground in their shared pursuit of artistic expression, personal liberation, and the fundamental human desire for happiness in a world still fractured by prejudice.

However, this nascent integration does not go unnoticed. The Los Angeles Police Department maintains a watchful, sometimes heavy-handed, presence at Dolphin’s, reflecting the anxieties of a society resistant to change. Acts of violence and intimidation simmer beneath the surface, aimed at reinforcing segregation and suppressing the budding interracial youth culture. John Dolphin, a man of unwavering faith and entrepreneurial spirit, becomes an unlikely peacekeeper. He rallies a diverse group of determined individuals from both the music and surfing communities, fostering a spirit of unity and resilience, working tirelessly to keep the peace and protect the fragile bonds being formed within his haven of music and freedom.