Andrew returned to his normal life according to his father's wishes, and Jazz seemed to disappear from his life forever, even the poster in the room had disappeared, and he had completely become an ordinary college student, and he had become one of the many people in the world capital of New York.

If there are no accidents, Andrew's life will be completely calm like Nicole's.

By chance, Andrew passed by a jazz bar and accidentally noticed that the guest performer was actually Terrence Fletcher. Ghostly, he enters the bar and sees Fletcher playing the piano, but Andrew is about to leave when his eyes meet Fletcher's, so he has to stay.

Fletcher was expelled from Shelfer College, saying that it was Sean Casey's parents who were behind it, and regretted the parents' attitudes and ideas.

"I think people don't know what I'm doing in Shelver, I'm not there to direct, the mentally handicapped can shake my arms to control the rhythm, I'm there to push them to push their limits. I believe that's ...... That's absolutely indispensable! Otherwise, you'll just waste the next Louis Armstrong, or the next Charlie Parker. ”

Fletcher said this, and the corners of Andrew's mouth couldn't help but sketch a small smile.

"I told you the story of how Charlie Parker became Charlie Parker, right?" Although Andrew still remembers, Fletcher recounts again how Joe Jones humiliated and suppressed Charlie Parker, and how Charlie Parker grew up through practice, Fletcher's eyes showed amazement and appreciation, without Joe Jones' swearing and encouragement, the jazz field would be missing a master, "For me, it was an absolute tragedy." ”

"But that's what everybody wants right now. People also wonder why Jazz is dead. Just look at the 'jazz' albums in every Starbucks. There are no more hurtful words in the English language than 'good'. Fletcher's eyes were full of sadness and sorrow.

Andrew thought, "Isn't there a bottom line? You crossed the line and then persuaded the next Charlie Parker to quit?"

"No, of course not. Because the next Charlie Parker will never be dissuaded. Fletcher said categorically.

Andrew seemed to feel something, and the light in those eyes regathered little by little, and the emotions in the depths of his eyes were quietly surging, and there was a drastic change from the calm and low-key appearance before entering the bar, as if it was ...... The sleeping soul has reawakened.

At the end of the evening, Fletcher extended an invitation, "The band I'm practicing right now is about to perform at the Jazz Festival (JVC), and the drummer is still out of breath. You know what I mean? I use all the sheet music for the music room band, 'Caravan,' 'Whip,' and I need a drummer who can memorize it all. ”

"Where's Ryan Connery?" Andrew asked.

"He's always been the motivation I use to motivate you. Fletcher said.

"Turner?"

"Turner changed to medicine, and I thought...... He may have been persuaded to quit. ”

Fletcher just looked at Andrew quietly, and Andrew didn't speak, just as quietly as he looked at Fletcher.

Slowly, slowly, the flame in the depths of Andrew's eyes happened to ignite, and the vitality in the depths of his pupils seemed to be reawakening little by little, and the bright color was quietly circulating in the light brown pupils, as if he was thinking, as if he was hesitating, but deep down he had already made a decision.

A look, from decadent to bright, from hesitant to firm, from dead to gorgeous, does not need the assistance and supplement of language, but it has already said too much.

He belonged to Jazz after all, from the soul to the skin, from the mind to the fingertips. Because, Ryan Connery has been reduced to mediocrity, Carl Turner has chosen to give up, and Charlie Parker will not be persuaded to quit, he is Fletcher's Charlie Parker.

……

Andrew found his drum kit again and started practicing the repertoire again, without superfluous footage, but from the details, he could see that his fingers and tiger mouth and other parts were put on band-aids again, and it seemed that the blood stains in the depths could be seen.

Here are the traces of practice.

Andrew carefully rummaged through his phone to find Nicole's phone number, and after dialing, he sent out an invitation, hoping that Nicole could come over to attend the jazz festival; Nicole's voice was still bright and sweet, but a little hesitant and alienated, she was not so willing to go but couldn't bear to refuse directly, so she said that she needed to ask her boyfriend.

Then it became clear.

In the square close-up, Andrew sat quietly on the edge of the bed, Nicole's voice came from the mobile phone receiver, the light in his eyes dimmed slightly, and a touch of bitterness flowed faintly, but then it evolved into embarrassment and helplessness, and even some mockery, even he didn't know what he was expecting.

After hanging up the phone, the curvature of Andrew's mouth was still maintained, but the focus and focus of his vision were slowly dissipating, lost and confused, confused and sad, the kind of lonely and lonely gray slowly surging in his eyes, and then he lowered his eyes, all emotions disappeared, and he regained his calm appearance.

He's still him, but he's a little different after all, and no one knows whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe that's the price of growth.

……

When the festival arrived, Andrew was ready to go to Carnegie Hall, part of Lincoln Center, the world's biggest stage, the pinnacle stage that every jazz performer dreams of.

Tonight, he's about to take the stage, and his father, Jim, is the only family invited.

He didn't think Nicole and her boyfriend would show up.

Standing backstage, Fletcher faced the brand-new band with a pleasant face, "For those members who are participating in JVC for the first time, it is estimated that it is the first time except for Carl. Tonight can change your life, and the guys in the audience can be a 'blue note' sign, an EMC customer, a Lincoln Center principal with just a phone call. ”

Andrew's smile bloomed again, and hope returned to his eyes.

"But on the other hand, if you mess up, you'd better consider changing careers. Because another characteristic of these people is that they will never forget. Fletcher's words made Andrew thoughtful, and his jawline tightened slightly.

The orchestra has officially taken the stage.

Andrew sat down smoothly, and then saw the audience, the hazy milky yellow halo projected over, making his vision a little blurred, only a piece of black pressure could be seen in front of him, everything became unreal but extremely real, his palms began to tremble slightly, and when he turned over, sweat was already soaked in his palms.

With a long exhale, Andrew curled up his palms, regained his composure, raised his head and glanced at the music rack, where the score of "Whiplash" was placed at the front, and then his breathing gradually stabilized.

Amid the applause of the audience, Fletcher stepped onto the stage, but his steps stopped in front of Andrew before heading to the conductor's seat.

Andrew looked up and showed a big smile, he knew that Fletcher was always special to him, and the bond between them was also special, and Fletcher wanted him to be his Charlie Parker, and this was his wish, perhaps, tonight could be such an opportunity.

But Fletcher's words made Andrew's smile stiffen, "Do you think I'm a stupid//? I know it's you." ”

Without superfluous words, Andrew's back climbed with a series of goosebumps, shivering one after another, and he couldn't stop at all, but he didn't know what to do, so he could only watch as Fletcher turned and walked onto the stage, and his whole brain was already in a state of collapse.

“…… We'll be playing some regular tracks, but before that, we'll be bringing you a brand new piece from Tim Simeone called 'Upper Shake'. ”

The audience held their breath, because they noticed that on Andrew's music rack, there was no "up-rocking" score at all, and one move directly pushed Andrew into a desperate situation, Andrew wanted to run away, but Fletcher didn't even give him such a chance, and directly started playing.

Andrew is finished, completely finished.

Even an amateur viewer could tell that Andrew was completely helpless, barely trying to hit some drums without even a cut-in point, and that was a complete disaster. It's a fatal mistake for any performance on any occasion, let alone at the start of a jazz festival in Carnegie Hall?

Andrew scrambled to try to beat some drums, but his performance was nothing short of miserable, and the audience felt even more torment than Andrew.

But Fletcher didn't stop performing, and the whole jazz band split into two parts: the good part and the jazz drum part.

At the end of the performance, Andrew couldn't even lift his head, the deep powerlessness and despair dragged his ankles and slowly sank, in stark contrast to the high-spirited, high-spirited Fletcher, who came to Andrew and whispered, "I guess, you just don't have that talent." ”

Andrew stared at the audience in front of him, the hope in his eyes turned into a dead silence, he knew that his career had come to an end completely, there was no possibility of turning over, the emotions of unwillingness and anger had disappeared without a trace, but he was dominated by shame, and the only thought in his mind was: flee far away.

Like a lost dog, he fled the stage of this music mecca in a panic.