Teasing the Korean Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 I mentioned in this related thread that Ms. TTK and I watched this last night. Anyone seen it? Quote
Brad Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 I only realized last night it was on Hulu. I will probably watch it in the next few days. Here’s an article that was in the New York Times, ‘Summer of Soul’ Review: In 1969 Harlem, a Music Festival Stuns Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted July 3, 2021 Author Report Posted July 3, 2021 It was fantastic! I hope the entire concert series is released on DVD. Quote
Brad Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Teasing the Korean said: It was fantastic! I hope the entire concert series is released on DVD. I’m looking forward to seeing it. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted July 3, 2021 Author Report Posted July 3, 2021 31 minutes ago, Brad said: I’m looking forward to seeing it. Bring Kleenex. I had tears in my eyes at many points. Quote
HutchFan Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said: Bring Kleenex. I had tears in my eyes at many points. Me too. It's incredibly moving, the best film I've seen in a LONG time. As I mentioned in another thread, see it in a theater if possible. It's only in limited release for a brief time -- but it's worth seeing on the big screen if you can! Edited July 3, 2021 by HutchFan Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted July 3, 2021 Author Report Posted July 3, 2021 It's remarkable that the elements remained in such good shape after 50 years, especially considering that they were in a basement. Also remarkable that the concert series was largely forgotten. Quote
soulpope Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 2 hours ago, HutchFan said: Me too. It's incredibly moving, the best film I've seen in a LONG time. As I mentioned in another thread, see it in a theater if possible. It's only in limited release for a brief time -- but it's worth seeing on the big screen if you can! I`m jealous ..... Quote
JSngry Posted July 3, 2021 Report Posted July 3, 2021 Just got back. Totally awesome, essential American history, and do NOT walk out/shut off until it's COMPLETELY over. Quote
bertrand Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 Am I understanding correctly that Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln are in the film? Who is playing with them? Quote
JSngry Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 They are. Max, and then with Abbey. They are accompanied by the festival house band, none of whom I immediately recognized, although the tenor player looked very familiar. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 8 minutes ago, JSngry said: They are. Max, and then with Abbey. They are accompanied by the festival house band, none of whom I immediately recognized, although the tenor player looked very familiar. Aha, interesting. I’d seen that Max and Abbey were both listed on the bill — not of the movie, but of the festival. And I too was hugely curious who was in his band (hoping perhaps Charles Tolliver). Can anyone scare up any pics or individual still-frames from the new doc — so we can all take a crack at ID-ing the mystery tenor player? Quote
JSngry Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 If there are to be "collector" editions of full sets come available... The film "as is" is a national treasure. If you would have told me that I would be able to see Mavis Staples share a microphone with Mahalia Jackson in front of a massive outdoor crowd in Harlem...I would not have believed you. This is the real deal. Quote
jlhoots Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 Sonny Sharrock, Herbie Mann, Nina Simone, Mongo Santamaria too. Quote
HutchFan Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, JSngry said: If you would have told me that I would be able to see Mavis Staples share a microphone with Mahalia Jackson in front of a massive outdoor crowd in Harlem...I would not have believed you. This is the real deal. And not only that it happened -- but also the WAY that it happened! As Mavis describes it in the film, Mahalia was out of gas and asked Mavis to step in, take the lead. So Mavis does her thing, singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord." And what Mavis does is AMAZING. And then Mahalia is so inspired by what she's hearing from Mavis that she has to sing too. And then she takes it even HIGHER. And then they're both singing it TOGETHER. I've never seen anything like it. It was so much more than just music. But it was also as powerful and beautiful as music can possibly be. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was bawlin' my eyes out. 13 minutes ago, jlhoots said: Sonny Sharrock, Herbie Mann, Nina Simone, Mongo Santamaria too. And Ray Barretto! And B.B. King, who is on FIRE! Edited July 4, 2021 by HutchFan Quote
Late Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 15 minutes ago, HutchFan said: And not only that it happened -- but also the WAY that it happened! As Mavis describes it in the film, Mahalia was out of gas and asked Mavis to step in, take the lead. So Mavis does her thing, singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord." And what Mavis does is AMAZING. And then Mahalia is so inspired by what she's hearing from Mavis that she has to sing too. And then she takes it even HIGHER. And then they're both singing it TOGETHER. I've never seen anything like it. It was so much more than just music. But it was also as powerful and beautiful as music can possibly be. Well said. I had the same impression. That segment was the highlight of the documentary for me. I did have one (small) gripe — they spliced up and voiced over Sonny Sharrock's solo! I wanted to hear it start to finish ... unedited! It looked amazing, but you could only hear snippets. Questlove gets my highest respect. Quote
Joe Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 Can't wait for the DVD box set with all the raw footage. I mean, I would hope something like that comes to be. Was the tenor player with Mongo Hadley Caliman? I know he was in Mongo's band during this era. Whoever is playing the tenor solo on "Watermelon Man," it's a good one! Quote
felser Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 Last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer published a good interview with Questlove about this. So strange that it has been so neglected, given all the attention WattStax garnered a couple of years later. But of course Stax got the soundtrack to that released which I guess makes all the difference. Quote
Bill Nelson Posted July 4, 2021 Report Posted July 4, 2021 Many thanks to the above-thread contributors who convinced me to get into my local theater for 'Summer of Soul'. it was the first actual movie I'd seen since '1917' and the experience was well worth the trip. By itself, the duo of Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples was, as HutchFan said, "as powerful and beautiful as music can possibly be". 'SoS' went far beyond any previous festival or concert films, as it had actual participants reflect on the 1969 concerts. In addition, there were several documentary drop-ins of prior political and social events of the 60's to provide context. As an Athens resident, I cannot overlook the commentary of journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault describing her breaking the color barrier in 1960 to attend the University of Georgia. Indeed, such were the times and it's to the credit of 'SoS' for the many reminders. Quote
bertrand Posted July 5, 2021 Report Posted July 5, 2021 Sounds like a great film. Too bad I am not ready to go out yet. Quote
bertrand Posted July 5, 2021 Report Posted July 5, 2021 7 hours ago, JSngry said: For you, there is Hulu and a free trial! We have Hulu but there are always password dramas. Quote
jazzkrow Posted July 5, 2021 Report Posted July 5, 2021 LOVED this documentary! It now occupies a place at the top of my favorite concerts docs, along with The Last Waltz.. Quote
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