Who Watched Episode 1 of Martin Scorcese's "Blues"?

[BurtWorm]

I saw it (Scorcese's film, Feel Like Going Home). It was a tiny bit all over the place, but I loved hearing the Bluesmen talk about their trade. Some Scorcese elements ratcheted up the action in Africa (I'm thinking of a screaming fan) and I loved the duet between Corey Harris and Ali Farka Toure.

PS: It's a much more engaging presentation than Ken "Slow" Burn's reverential PBS-ization of Jazz.

[Howardx]

1. i did

i dug it:)

[supernova]

2. Pretty good

I was in and out of it... I got wrapped up in the "Charmed" premiere. :dunce:

[TacticalPeek]

3. Great TV, simply great. Could be a wonderful 'mini-series'.

Tonight's installment is by Wim Wenders! (2 of 7, I believe)

Its so good, I couldn't tear myself away to check the news for Nofacts' arrest, Rove's imprisonment, etc. :silly:

[displacedvermoter]

4. Liked the Stuff with Keb Mo, as well

Enjoyed the entire progam, actually. However, I guess that might not say much as I also enjoyed Ken "Slow" Burn's (sic) PBS-ization of Jazz, and the Civil War, and Baseball, and Hughie Long, and the Brooklyn Bridge, and Thomas Jefferson, etc, etc!

[BurtWorm]

6. I'm sorry!

I couldn't resist it. You know what really turned me off about Ken Burns was his brother's boring, boring, boring series about NYC. I know it's not fair to punish Ken for Rick's sins, but watching the NYC series just pointed out all the excesses I fine tiresome about both Burnses' films. They were great when they first came out, but is that all they can do? That's why I appreciated Scorcese's movie. It moved. It had color. It was vital. It had great characters who did all their talking for themselves.

[AGiordino]

5. Am I the only one

who wondered about the subtitles for the English-speaking bluesmen?
I could understand for Ali Farka Toure and the other French-speaking gemtleman, but,come on. Other than that one quibble, it was the regular Burns tour-de-force of archival footage and interviews. I'll have to record tonight and tomorrow night.

[BurtWorm]

7. I only saw subtitles for the lyrics of songs. I could have used subtitles

for some of what Otha Turner said. By the look on Corey Harris's face, he could have used it too.

What I appreciated was the naturalness of the talk about the Blues. It was overintellectualized, academized. But some of what was said was truly profound.

[Leftist78]

10. As a rural southerner

I wondered about that for a second, but then I figured it was for the yankees that couldn't understand the country accents. That's what I figured, but I don't really know :shrug:

[BurtWorm]

12. Did they use subtitles for the spoken parts?

I don't remember that. I was grateful for the subtitles for the lyrics. I thought it was a sign of respect.

[Leftist78]

13. a couple of times

I remember seeing a couple of older blues guy's with subtitles while they were talking. As a huge blues fan, I already knew most of the lyrics, but I thought the subtitles for them was ultra-cool for those that didn't know them.

[alfredo]

8. Excellent show.

Tonight it is Bonnie Raitt, Beck, Cassandra Wilson, and others. It should be very good. Bonnie is one great slide guitar player.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Darn It! I Forgot It Was On!

Hopefully they'll show Ep1 pretty quickly here in Chicago. And, you're right about Burns' Jazz. It was, oh how do i say this, NOT GOOD!
The Professor

[BurtWorm]

11. That's very diplomatic of you, perfesser.

;)

[indigo32]

14. I loved it

and look forward to more

[BurtWorm]

15. I was just looking at the pbs site

http://www.pbs.org/theblues/index.html

to see which episodes include footage of a concert I saw being filmed for the series at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn in November 2001. The Otha Turner concert footage was from that night. Tonight's Lucinda Williams' song and The John Spencer Blues Explosion number were filmed that night. But I can't find reference to the hottest set I saw that night, Luther Dickinson Jr. and the North Missippi All-Stars. He must have wound up on the cutting room floor. Too bad!

By the way, has anyone here heard Joe Bonamassa? Just heard him for the first time last weekend (on CD alas) and he's un-freakin'-believable! He brings blues guitar into the 21st century. I don't see him mentioned in the discography either.

[Kat45]

16. I've heard him on a blues radio show.

But I only heard him once, and I was running around getting ready to go out, so I can't remember what I heard, but I think I remember liking him and I'd like to hear him again.

[Kat45]

17. I did! I did!

And I loved it! Scorcese and the blues--two of my favorites. But I did get to bed later than I should have. I'm hoping to catch the rest of the shows this week, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

[ACK]

18. The duet was way cool

I thought they dwelled a little long in Africa at the expense of the delta folks IMO.

I would have liked to hear a bit more about Robert Johnson and some Howlin' Wolf and Leadbelley for goodness sakes.

I guess it is all good though for a start.