Jedidiah (Jetty) Chesnutt, a young, African-American trumpet player living in pre-9/11 New York City, is struggling to find balance between his professional goals and his personal relationships. The dwindling jazz community in the city and the lack of interest in jazz among many of his contemporaries are making it difficult for him to achieve his career aspirations. To add to his woes, his girlfriend Kendra wants to get married, but Jetty isn't even sure he wants to marry her.Uncertainty about Kendra, stagnation in his career, feelings of jealousy for the musical successes of his friends, and curiosity about Elise Headley, a vibrant and sexy Caucasian jazz singer from California all converge on Jetty, rising into a combustible, climactic, life-altering summer.