Wattstax is a 1973 documentary film by Mel Stuart that focused on the 1972 Wattstax music festival and the African American Watts Los Angeles, California.  organized by Memphis‘s Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. Wattstax was seen by some as “the Afro-American answer to Woodstock“. To enable as many members of the black community in L.A. to attend as possible, tickets were sold for only $1.00 each. The Reverend Jesse Jackson gave the invocation, which included his “I Am – Somebody” poem, which was recited in a call and response with the assembled stadium crowd. In the film, interspersed between songs are interviews with Richard Pryor, Ted Lange and others who discuss the black experience in America.

Jumping continents and crossing cultures, “Planet B-Boy” looks at the history of breakdancing and its vibrant resurgence in urban cultures around the world.

WILD COMBINATION is director Matt Wolf’s visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avant-garde composer, singer-songwriter, cellist, and disco producer Arthur Russell. Before his untimely death from AIDS in 1992, Arthur prolifically created music that spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of abstract art. Now, over fifteen years since his passing, Arthur’s work is finally finding its audience. Wolf incorporates rare archival footage and commentary from Arthur’s family, friends, and closest collaborators—including Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg—to tell this poignant and important story.

Before iPods (or even CDs) there were boomboxes. It’s been 20 years since they disappeared from the streets, but the nostalgia they evoke is about more than stereo equipment. We’ve changed the way we listen to music — and to each other. Learn more about the boombox at npr.org

The never ending vinyl debate – Is vinyl dead? Will vinyl ever die?  When did  vinyl die?  Is vinyl dead as everything else  people falsely conceive to be dead?  Documentary investigating the future of vinyl music and culture by Josh Ralph. When will vinyl kill the mp3 industry?

What is Breakcore? (baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more) Breakcore is the bastard hate child of jungle, happy hardcore, gabba, speedcore, drum ‘n’ bass, techno, electronica, IDM, acid house, ragga, electro, dub, industrial, noise, grindcore, hardcore, metal and punk. This is a statement video/documentry on one of the most progressive music scenes.

Moog, the new documentary about Robert Moog, inventor of the modern synthesizer, is a portrait of the legendary figure in music and technology and his ideas about creativity, design, interactivity, spirituality and his collaborations with musicians over the years.  Featuring appearances by Walter Sear, Gershon Kinsgley, Jean-Jacques Perrey, DJ Spooky, Herb Deutsch, Pamelia Kurstin, Charlie Clouser, Money Mark, Page Hamilton, and an eclectic mix of performers. The documentary also contains original music by Sterolab,  The Neptunes, Tortoise, Luke Vibert and much more.

Kevin Saunderson talks about techno, fame and listening to bad records.

In this short documentary Kevin Saunderson touches the issues about the growing aspect of money involved into electronic music. For good or bad dance music has became way more popular in the 21th century. The same can be said for the part of technology involved into electronic music as well.

A video history following the rise of hip-hop music, from the simple street rhythms of the Bronx to a powerful force in the music industry. A long list of some of the heavy hitters in the field, such as Chuck D, Krs-One, Dr. Dre, The Fugees, Ice-T, The Notorious B.I.G. and many more,  describe their impressions of the business. This is an excellent, hefty source for the true, behind-the-scenes flavor of the hip-hop scene and it may just burst some preconceived notions of what hip-hop really is.

Charles Mingus – Triumph of the Underdog is the first comprehensive documentary about jazz bassist, bandleader, and composer Charles Mingus. Mingus led a tumultuous life filled with trauma and frustration, joy and creativity. Not light enough to be considered white and not dark enough to fit into the black community, he was an outcast in American society who charted his own path. Likewise, his legacy as a 20th century composer reaches far beyond conventional jazz idioms.
Mingus apprenticed with people like Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Charlie Parker before going out on his own and becoming a musical force for more than a decade. When interest in his music waned at the height of the rock era in the mid-1960s, and one of his closest collaborators, Eric Dolphy, died, Mingus was institutionalized due to psychological problems. Upon his return to the music scene, he began playing more concerts and his record sales zoomed. This golden period of recognition ended when he contracted Lou Gehrig’s Disease and his muscles began to deteriorate. He died in 1979.
Exhaustively researched, virtually everything used in this film is extraordinarily rare–newly unearthed performance footage, previously unpublished photographs, radio broadcasts, and private interviews. Abundant clips of Mingus in performance in the 1960s and 1970s perfectly illustrate both his joy and his rage. Nine years in the making, this lucid, involving portrait shows the many faces and tortured heart of a musical genius. He titled his 1971 autobiography Beneath the Underdog, but by the end of his life, with his ambition and resolute sense of purpose, the underdog ultimately triumphed.
Performances include “Epitaph,” “Peggy’s Blue Skylight,” “Better Get Hit in Your Soul,” “So Long Eric,” “Sue’s Changes,” “Goodbye Porkpie Hat,” and more. Produced by Don McGlynn and Sue Mingus. Directed by Don McGlynn.

Charles Mingus // Triumph of the Underdog (Documentary 1997) from umutcaglar on Vimeo.