I recently saw this very interesting documentary by Hannah Rothschild, The Jazz Baroness, about her great aunt Nica who spent over 28 years as Thelonious Monk’s best friend. I was kind of surprised by the story because, of course, I had heard of Monk, but had never heard of Nica. For those who don’t know who the Rothschilds are, they are Britain’s most prominent Jewish family. We’re talking dynasty. Pannonica (Nica) started out her life following the normal route of a wealthy woman, got married and had a passel of kids. But her life was irrevocably changed when she a friend played her Monk’s Round Midnight and she was hooked and spent the next two years trying to find him. After meeting, the two became inseparable (though there is no confirmation that they were lovers) with her supporting him sometimes financially, but mostly through her love and admiration. She even took the fall for him and almost went to jail for many years when pot was found in their car.
The Jazz Baroness is the story of an unlikely and groundbreaking friendship. Their relationship was very unique and at times dangerous to both since they were friends at a time when black men and white women were not seen together in the way they are today.
Director Hannah Rothschild answered a couple of questions about the film.
Women & Hollywood: Why do you think that this unique relationship between Nica and Thelonious Monk has gone virtually unreported until now?
Hannah Rothschild: At the time they were hanging out, in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s everyone on the scene knew because they saw them out together. But its been 21 years since she died and twenty-seven since he did. Interest in their relationship and in Nica in particular was reignited when her children and grand-daughter Nadine published Nica’s book ‘Three Wishes’ posthumously. It’s a wonderful journal of her personal photographs and her interviews with musicians where she asked each if they had three wishes what they’d be. After that lots of people’s memories and interest was tweaked.
W&H: What made you need to tell this story?
HR: I was lucky enough to know Nica and as I worked as a documentarian wanted to find out more about this close relation. Her story reflected so many things I am interested in- history, women, music, human rights, America, Europe and my family. It seemed like a gift.
W&H: Clearly Nica was a woman ahead of her time in many different ways. What can we learn from her sense of independence and passion?
HR: She was born in 1913 at a time when women didn’t have the vote and in most cases access to education or employment except as domestic servants. Her youth was a waiting room for motherhood and marriage. In the UK until the divorce act of 1969 women weren’t granted either alimony or custody of their children. The only two groups banned from private enclosures at racecourses, for example, were convicted felons and divorcees. Against this backdrop her decision to cross continents and fight for the rights of a group of people whom she considered were badly treated serves as an inspiration. She was an early feminist and freedom fighter.
W&H: I found it so interesting that Nica seems to have been virtually erased from the Rothschild legacy. How painful is that for you and why do you believe that occurred?
HR: I hope that from now on she will be fully instated. In our family, until now, women have with notable exceptions been erased from the records. Only the children of the eldest sons are included in the family tree: my daughters for example don’t merit an entry because their mother is not the heir. I don’t find it “painful,” it’s just weird.
W&H: What was the most important thing you learned about yourself and Nica from making the film?
HR: To put principals before personalities, to stand up for what you believe in but also accept that others are entitled to their opinions.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female filmmakers?
HR: Fight the good fight! I think that being a woman, having children, juggling the personal and professional has made me a more interesting person with a far wider and subtle take on the world. A young single male might have more energy but he’s bound to have less wisdom!
Film premieres Wednesday, November 25th on HBO2.
I’d love to see this, hope it’s widely distributed, gets beyond the U.S.
When I had heard of her before, it was because it was at her home where Charlie Parker had died. She seemed like such a unique and interesting woman, and not the kind of rich person who attended jazz clubs but didn’t speak to the musicians out of class or racism. She had true class and sophistication, was at both highly wealthy and one of the people, and was ahead of her time. I would love to see this documentary somewhere, as I don’t have HBO.
What time is the documentary going to air ?