Red, White and Blues

Featuring: Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Humphrey Lyttelton, Lonnie Donnegan, B.B. King, Albert Lee, Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Lulu, Big Bill Broonzy, Rolling Stones, Cream, Alexis Korner, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

During the 1960s, the UK was the location for a vibrant social revolution. London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle all had their own buzzing music scenes. The post-war traditional jazz and folk revival movements were fertile ground for a new kind of blues music – influenced by the authentic black blues of the USA, but with a UK personality. Mike Figgis’ film examines the circumstances of this vibrant period. Its heart is a live session at the famous Abbey Road Beatles studio. Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison and Lulu all improvise around some classic blues standards, accompanied by a superb band of young and old. The results are electrifying. Says Figgis: “I’m interested in why there was such excitement about this black music among Europeans. To that end, I’ve put together a group of these musicians, augmenting the line-up with some younger talent as well. Hopefully the resulting recording session of some blues standards, and the discussions that follow, shine some light on why at a particular moment the blues was reinterpreted abroad and reintroduced in a new form that was universally embraced.”

US | English | 2003 | 120 mins