Up From The Streets, the documentary directed by Michael Murphy, examines New Orleans culture as seen through the lens of music. It will screen at New Plaza Cinema at the Macaulay Honors College on Saturday, March 2 at 12:15 pm.
Seven-time Grammy Award winner, two-time Oscar nominee, trumpeter, pianist, composer and New Orleans native Terence Blanchard joined WBGO New Director Doug Doyle to talk about the doc. Blanchard is the host and executive producer of Up from the Streets.
"When Michael Murphy came up to me with the idea, I jumped at it. It was something that Herbie Hancock said after Hurricane Katrina that floored me. He said you know New Orleans has been the cultural center of the country for decades and generations. When he said it, it hit me that we have been a strong influential force in the world of music and what Mike is trying to do is to show how all of that came about and where it came from. I felt very blessed to be able to showcase so many great minds and musical talents from this area."
Up From The Streets features great archived as well as new performances. It also includes emotional and telling interviews with The Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant, Sting, Keith Richards, and many more.
Blanchard summed up the vibe during the doc by stressing the music is a vehicle for us to connect.
You can SEE the entire interview with Terence Blanchard here.
