Dir: Don McGlynn
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Duration: 115mins
Print Source: booking@magpictures.com
www.magpictures.com
The story of gospel music is a key part of the African American experience and Rejoice and Shout traces this musical and cultural journey from slavery through to modern America. Gospel music is much more than a celebratory religious experience and Rejoice and Shout explores the influences of political struggle and social change on the form, with interviewees including Smokey Robinson and Mahalia Jackson guiding the audience to a deeper understanding of the music. With some incredible archive footage from the likes of The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Staple Singers and Mahalia Jackson, the evocative and celebratory power of gospel music is clear.
Don McGlynn - who previously directed the Howlin' Wolf Story, Charles Mingus: More Than You Know and Art Pepper: Notes of a Jazz Survivor - has a great feel for the material and the music is pushed to the fore throughout, allowing even the uninitiated to experience and enjoy some incredible performances.