Music Pictures: New Orleans

One of the best music documentaries I've ever seen. I's a truly intimate look at the lives and history of four legendary performers, of whom Irma Thomas is probably the best known to main stream audiences, but all of whom are fascinating in their own right. The stories from Little Freddie King alone, one of the last surviving gut bucket Blues Musicians out there are worth it, I could listen to him talk and tell stories about his life all day long. The stuff with Ellis Marsalis well.. no spoilers her but RIP to a legend is all I'll say.

I've seen a lot of music documentaries, but what makes this one really stand out is the level of intimacy the filmmaker Ben Chace has with his subjects. The decision they made to record new music with each of the musicians as a through line for the documentary really paid off in spades.

I hope they do this in more cities, I'd love to see one about Chicago or Nashville or a ton of other places.