Asia Society Staff Picks: The Eddy
Friday, 19 June, 2020
The Eddy is a multilingual, eight-episode limited series set in Paris. The show presents an intriguing perspective into the lives of eight individuals and a struggling Jazz bar that brings them together.
Elliot, once a famous musician in America, now co-manages The Eddy with Farid. Every night the club hosts soulful performances by the in-house band, which includes singer Maja, who is Elliot’s on-again-off-again girlfriend, pianist Randy, bassist Jude, drummer Katarina, trumpeter Ludo and saxophonist Jowee.
As Elliot begins to discover that his business partner is involved with underworld elements, he must grapple with the arrival of his troubled daughter who has moved to Paris to live with him. But he isn't the only one whose professional and personal lives are unravelling. Each of the show's eight protagonists are dealing with various issues, and it’s music that holds them together.
With Jazz being the centrepiece of the series, the cast is made up of real jazz musicians including Lada Obradovic and Damian Nueva Cortes, alongside stars like André Holland, who plays Elliot, and Amandla Stenberg, who plays his estranged teenage daughter Julie.
There is no doubt that the best part about The Eddy is its musical score, which was recorded live during the show’s filming. The soundtrack laces through each of the eight episodes, delicately shifting with each change in protagonist. With originals by Grammy-Award winner Glen Ballard and Academy-Award nominee Randy Kerber, the musical performances are uplifting, melancholic, affecting, and can often transport you to Paris.
More about the soundtrack here – www.theeddyband.com
Producer Damien Chazelle, who gave us Whiplash and La La Land, describes the Netflix original as a love letter to the real Paris. The Eddy's gritty cityscape is a showcase of modern Parisian living, unlike the stereotypical cinematic image of the city of lights. The Eddy’s moody swagger and Parisian tempo may not be to every viewers taste, but if you are looking for a addictively soulful soundtrack and a story to go along, you can find it on Netflix.
About Summer Fridays
Summer Fridays is a brand new blog series by Asia Society India Centre, profiling established cultural influencers and rising stars in various fields. Each week we feature conversations, interviews, recipes, playlists, and more—on art, food, music, literature, and film.