by Dan Berman (Guest Critic)
Ladies and gentlemen, at this time I would like to introduce to you a man who has made a name for him self ?behind the music.? His name is Tom Dowd.

Director Mark Moormann takes us on an R&B soul ride into Dowd’s magnificently colorful career with ?the language of music? and you just can’t help the feeling that you want to get up and boogie on down.

You may not be familiar with his name because this living legend of music has certainly got the knack for making our great musicians sound oh’ so good. Dowd has worked with so many of our great musicians and he is the reason why their music is on top of the charts. Yes, they are all there in the heart of music history because of Dowd’s relentless pursuit to find that right element in their music.

Opening with the majestic piano break from Derek & the Dominoes’ classic-rock monolith ?Layla,? Dowd now in his late seventies still loves his job with the infectious enthusiasm that he had when he first started. The man is friendly, positive, and thoughtful and continues to work alongside young, untested, even unsigned bands. His hallway is covered with gold and platinum records. It's truly an honor to see what ?music genius? is all about. There are so many kinds of artist’s but his art came from what he accomplished with his soundboard.

Dowd began his career as a freelance recording engineer in the mid-1940s. Still in his twenties, he started a career that would span well over fifty years and produce some of the most extraordinary music to come out of a recording studio. He has worked with Eric Clapton, John Coltrane, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and the Allman Brothers just to name some of the talent he has encouraged and inspired.

Dowd’s relationship with the legendary Ray Charles turned into a deep and trusting friendship. It was the ticket in capturing the single most important artist in R&B history. He turned Charles and his piano into one of the greatest combinations and "boy did he make them sound so sweet indeed."

When Atlantic switched gears to a new sound, ?rhythm and blues?, Dowd wasted little time producing countless classic sides of Atlantic’s unique, funky, soulful, blend of music.

Atlantic proposed with a number of R&B artists like Wilson Picket and Solomon Burke, and benefited from its association with Stax Records in Memphis. Dowd was right there at the forefront working on numerous music pieces with Aretha Franklin when she was composing her chart- topping hit ?respect? in 1967. Dowd has invented an entire generation of music. His ears can listen to a piece of music and tell you what needs change. The man made a name for himself with his special talent as a Producer, Engineer, and inventor.

The film, from beginning to end, is filled with ?rhythm and blues? sounds that stay with you throughout the entire film and well after. This heavenly, flawless, documentary feature is by all means going to be one of my top ten best films of 2004. It’s uplifting, fascinating and fulfilling to the human spirit. You will feel the same way as soon as you see this masterful piece of filmmaking. Not to be missed.

Sadly to say, Dowd passed away on October 27th, 2002. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to see this thoughtful, rocking-good time-entertaining portrait of himself and his work. This should be on top of every music buff’s list, truly the best music documentary in years. Simply the best independent film this year, or any other year.

Dan Berman