CD reviewed by Glenn Gaslin Film starring Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, John Cothran Jr., Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson. Directed by Craig Brewer. Released by New West Records. It's already clear, after only two movies, what makes a Craig Brewer picture: a strong Southern sense of place, backed up with home-grown characters and music. Hustle & Flow told of a Memphis pimp finding his inner artist using the odd poetry of dirty-South rap, some of which even won an Oscar®. In this, aging bluesman Jackson falls for the wild young Ricci, and the soundtrack mines the northern Mississippi hills for music and history. There's roots rock from the Black Keys, Jessie Mae Hemphill and R.L. Burnside; and Sam Jackson plays and sings the blues with Brewer's house band, packed with the likes of Charlie Musselwhite and members of the North Mississippi Allstars. It should make anyone who loves the blues, er, happy. Movie reviewed separately.
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