Celebrating African-American Music Roots: Two Documentaries

The Last of the First will begin the afternoon celebration. The documentary chronicles the last of the first generation of Swing musicians performing in the U.S. and on significant tours abroad, preserving and promoting the jazz heritage world-wide. One of the band’s founders, Al Vollmer, and film editor, Julia Tikhonova, will be on hand to answer questions after the 60-minute film.

At 2:30, we’ll show one of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time, Say Amen, Somebody. The newly restored masterpiece of George T. Nierenberg is a joyous, funny, deeply emotional celebration of 2oth century American gospel music. The features the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey (“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”); its matron, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith; and earth-shaking performances by the Barrett Sisters and the O’Neal Twins. The film runs 101-minutes.