American Epic - New documentary and music reissue series of 1920s-30s blues and other American music

I was excited by the announcement of a new PBS documentary series called American Epic.

http://www.americanepic.com/

I also noticed an interesting announcement from John Tefteller about the audio restoration work that's been undertaken for this project with old recordings from the '20s-'30s. I look forward to hearing them.

https://www.facebook.com/john.tefteller.9/posts/867991949906568?fref=nf

Here's part of what he posted:

 

thanks!!

 

I'm looking forward to this!

 

Looks incredible!

 

Thanks for posting

 

WOW. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Can't wait!

 

Sensational. The more I listen to the music of that era, the more I want to revisit it. Addictive once your ears adjust. Wonder how much they'll be able to do in terms of making the voices (in particular) sound natural.

 

Sounds fantastic; can't wait . . .

 

Very exciting!

 

Cool!! Can't wait to see it!

 

When is it airing ?!

 

Update from American Epic Facebook page

we are currently making the rounds of festivals, and the finished films will be broadcast (on PBS) in late spring of 2017, after which DVDs will be made available. Thank you for your patience while we've been busy wrapping things up. We hope that we'll be coming to your city soon, so keep an eye out here for updates over the coming months!
October 5 at 1:07pm

 

I received the next year's calendar from Blues Images,again they have used the same audio restoration,i'm hearing the Charley Patton tracks like never before,you are in the room.OUTSTANDING.
I've done a bit of net surfing about Nicholas Bergh the engineer and his new amazing restoration technique,i've found nothing other that he is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.
Any clues or info?

 

I guess it's a debate if the invention of recordings helped or hurt music over time? Sure we are glad to have our own versions in our hands to play when we want. We also love that it preserves music. But I keep thinking of payola, not just the 50s rock and rock payola, but all pay to play. This decided what was to be heard and what would be popular. What did we loose when the artist was no in control of the music, i.e. before recordings? I assume a similar case can be said for live performance promoters? Maybe I am speaking about art free of commercial decisions? Maybe I'm just dreaming?

 

Good to see Taj Mahal at the forefront. I hope this isnt a bunch of "roots" rambling from Jack and Elton. We dont need that. We arent ignorant. Just shut up and let us mostly see the films.

 

So it looks like it's finally official (If Amazon can be believed):


American Epic Blu-ray 29.99 and 34.99 (I imagine the first id DVD and the second Blu-ray)

• Format: NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only )
• Number of discs: 2
• Studio: PBS Distribution
• DVD Release Date: June 13, 2017
• Run Time: 330 minutes

 

Amazon blurb: From executive producers T Bone Burnett, Robert Redford and Jack White, this is the story of early American recorded music when the musical strands of a nation first combined to spark a cultural renaissance that forever transformed the future of music and the world. Also includes a feature-length film of in-studio sessions, with leading contemporary artists recording early American music on a restored 1920s recording machine.

 

American Epic: When Music Gave America Her Voice Hardcover – May 2, 2017

Companion book

 

This was originally scheduled to be screened here in the UK as part of the BBC Arena series in October 2015. Then it was pushed back to October 2016.
I'm glad that at last, something seems to be happening and we may get to see this in the Spring.
Personally I can't wait.

 

I'm hoping it will be broadcast in April or May; based on the May 2 date of release for the companion book. But as you say it's been scheduled before.

 

Wonderful, I can't wait.
And I noticed that Whoopi Goldberg is not part of it. Not sure how the British Elton John can be a part of American Rural Music though.

 

This is the Blu-Ray on Amazon realease date June 13, 2017. I've read reports that say the PBS Broadcast will be May 16th, 23rd and 30th. See this page from Alabama public TV

 

This will be broadcast in May.

1. @AmericanEpic I see this on the May schedule for some PBS stations (May 16, 23 and 30). Is this correct?
   
   
2. American Epic‏ @AmericanEpic 8m8 minutes ago
   Yes !
   

 

Will be interested to hear of the Video disk release ...

While waiting for the Ken Burns country music program

 

It will be on PBS May 2017 in 3 Episodes:

May 16
The Big Bang (56 min)
Travel to 1920s Tennessee as the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Memphis Jug Band make their first records with producer Ralph Peer on a revolutionary portable recording machine, creating the first recordings of R&B and country songs.

May 23
Blood and Soil (56 min)
Travel to the rural South as Elder Burch, Charley Patton and others record early Delta blues, gospel and protest songs. The Great Flood of 1927 devastates Mississippi River communities, leading to northern migration and Chicago Blues by Howlin' Wolf.

May 30
Out of the Many, The One (1 hour 26 min)
Discover how America's diverse cultures contribute to its musical styles: from the Hopi tribe to Hawaii's Joseph Kekuku to Mexican-American Lydia Mendoza and the Cajun Breaux Family. Mississippi John Hurt's blues inspires a generation of musicians.