Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “…Jazz speaks for life… Blues tells the story of life’s difficulties. Put them into music … come out with new hope or a sense of triumph.” I was reminded of Dr. King’s love of music when I recently attended the screening of “Reel to Reel: Soundtrack for a Revolution” at LA’s Grammy Museum. This documentary film features a host of today’s popular artists performing music from the civil rights movement. Music was the glue that sustained that movement. In this film, the moments of Martin Luther King Jrs’ life struggles are strung together like a strand of musical black pearls. Not surprisingly, music documents and plays a key role in American history. Some of the featured singers blended into this film are Angie Stone, Anthony Hamilton, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Richie Havens, Mary Mary, Joss Stone, John Legend, Wyclef Jean and the Roots. Danny Glover is Executive Producer, Dylan Nelson, Producer; Corey Smyth, Music Producer; Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman are the filmmakers. Every school should be searching for this film and showing it to their student body. I guarantee they will find it extremely inspiring, from both a historical and musical perspective.

Speaking of the 1960’s Jimi Hendrix may not be thought of as a “Jazz” artist, but one important root of Jazz is Blues. Hendrix sure could play and sing the Blues. We will all get an opportunity to enjoy some of the Hendrix magic with the release of a series of 1969 never-before-released-sessions that were recorded in London. They have been locked in a vault for the past 40 years. The precious analogue tapes have been digitally mixed and will be released for public consumption in the first part of March, 2010 by Sony Music. Keep an ear out.

Dee Dee McNeil
january 2010

 ↑ Back to Top