How many movies are life affirming? This one is. Inspiration floods Mark Landsman’s documentary about the Kashmere Stage Band, a bunch of black high-schoolers in Houston led to jazzy heights by their teacher and leader, the tough and tireless master of sonic funk Conrad “Prof” Johnson. Their ’70s sound remains exciting long after the Afros shrank, and they staged a last concert for wry old Prof. The term “labor of love” gets a fresh uplift in this thundering, soulful work. Go, and groove. (2011) — David Elliott
This movie is not currently in theaters.