Take Me to the River, screening at the 2015 Byron Bay Film Festival is a celebration of the Stax sound and a tribute to those who made it. That the blues is timeless and cuts across the generations is borne out by the musical collaboration we witness in this delightful film, a must-see for fans of the genre (as well as soul, hip-hop, jazz, pop and rock: it’s a seminal form).
In the 50s and 60s, Stax Recording Studios in Memphis stood apart as what soul singer/songwriter William Bell describes as a ‘musical oasis’. While musos of all colours, creeds and ages jammed inside and produced some of the finest sounds of the era, Martin Luther King was outside raging against segregation and the Freedom Marchers were demanding change.
Take Me to the River documents the recording of the album of the same name and sees the legendary masters mentoring the new generation, in an attempt to ensure the foundations of soul and blues are not lost; a motivation made poignant by the fact that several of the veteran musicians featured in the film have since passed away.
Covering nine sessions in total, the film is full of magic moments, like blues legend Otis Clay recording Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You with pint-sized rapper Lil P-Nut. And Charles ‘Skip’ Pitts (the man responsible for the signature Memphis wah-wah guitar sound) recording with soul man William Bell and Snoop Doggy Dog.
Take Me to the River screens at the Byron Bay Film Festival on Saturday, March 7 at 2pm. Tickets available at the venue, the Byron Community Centre, or from www.bbff.com.au
To celebrate Tone Deaf are giving readers the opportunity to win a double pass to the Take Me to the River screening on March 7 at 2pm, enter your details below for a chance to win.
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