Tommy... riffs freely, aping the moody, improvisatory style of classic jazz as he works some rich variations on the all-too-common story of an artist knocked around by a rough romance.

In this feature directing debut, with a screenplay he co-wrote with Marnie Van Dyk, Tommy works well with his ensemble and is clearly intrigued by emotional states. Or at least the idea of them.

Just like a jazz tune, the film establishes an image, elaborates on it and brings it back to a more-or-less satisfying close.

If you’re going to do a movie set in the world of jazz, even if the musicians are on the margins, then you owe the audience some good music.