Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition perform “Kine Joe” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Mathus is widely known as the founder of the 1990s swing-revival group, the Squirrel Nut Zippers and for his collaboration with Chicago blues legend, Buddy Guy. This song comes from his album, “Confederate Buddah.”

The Tri-State Coalition features Justin Showah on bass, Matt Pierce on guitar, Eric Carlton on keyboard, and Ryan Rogers on drums.

For more info:
http://jimbomathus.com
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546216.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Kenny Brown performs the country-style blues song “Shake ‘Em On Down” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival which he and his wife Sara organize on behalf of a non-profit organization established to promote the unique music of the north Mississippi hill country.

The hill country was home to the late fife and drum master Otha Turner as well as late blues legends Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev. Roy Wilkins, Joe Callicott, Ranie Burnette, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, and R. L. Burnside. Their music is particularly known for its repetitive, hypnotic character.

Brown has been an integral part of the hill country blues scene for all of his life having learned to play guitar as a child from Joe Callicott and playing guitar alongside Junior Kimbrough and R. L. Burnside on their recordings for the Fat Possum record label and live performances around the world.

This song was recorded several times by Mississippi Fred McDowell and was the inspiration for “Hats Off to Roy Harper” recorded by Led Zeppelin on their album Led Zeppelin III. It was a staple of R. L. Burnside’s shows with Brown playing guitar accompaniment but here Brown presents his own unique spin on the song.

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a two-day outdoor festival which takes place each year on the last weekend of June.

For more info:
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com
http://www.myspace.com/kennybrownmusic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Brown_%28guitarist%29

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546191

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Selections from several songs performed by the North Mississippi Allstars at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Songs include “The Meeting,” “Po Black Maddie,” “Station Blues” and “Skinny Woman” (with Duwayne Burnside), and “Shake ‘Em on Down.” The North Mississippi Allstars are brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar and vocal) and Cody Dickinson (drums). Seen in the audience cheering them on is Mary Lindsay Dickinson, their mother.

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is held the last weekend of June and is organized by Kenny and Sara Brown. Kenny Brown is a guitarist/singer who is widely known for his work with blues legend R. L. Burnside.

For more info:
http://www.nmallstars.com
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546145.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

“April’s Hero,” a new film by University of Alabama Telecommunications and Film Professor Dwight Cammeron, has been selected for screening at the 2012 North Carolina Black Film Festival in Wilmington, NC March 22-25. The four-day juried festival includes features, shorts, documentaries and animation. The event is sponsored by the NC Black Arts Alliance as a multidisciplinary vehicle for the advancement of African-American arts and culture.

“April’s Hero” is the story of Robert Reed, the ultimate first responder after the April 27th, 2011 tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The tornado created a six-mile path of destruction and left 52 dead, but Reed pulled twelve of his neighbors from the rubble, throwing refrigerators and hot water heaters off of them. Reed moved into Crescent Ridge Mobile Home Estates in Tuscaloosa County in 2009. Residents were wary of him because of his background, but like many other times in his life, Reed won them over with his hard work ethic. He was hired as the park’s manager a year later. Since the tornado, people have come to his aid, donating equipment for his landscaping business and land for a new home. Reed lost everything in the storm, but is optimistic in trying to rebuild his life for his family and his reputation. Reed doesn’t want people to be intimidated by his muscular physique from his extensive workout routine or make assumptions about him because he spent time in prison. His heroic act is proof of his true altruistic character.

The filmmaker, Dwight Cammeron is a long-time friend and colleague of mine and this is a very inspiring film. For more information, visit Dwight’s website.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

The first film is by a team led by Melissa Smith who works with me as an assistant producer.

Astray Cast & Crew :
Melissa Smith – Captain, Director, Editor
with
Andrew Carey- Actor
Zachary Ponds- Boom Operator
Seth Collins- Actor
Kristin Bruns- Camera Operator
Katie Jackson- Sound Mixer/Designer
Mallory Clark- Director of Photography

The second film is by a team led by Hamilton Henson who works with me as an editor.

Miss Peabody Is Dead Cast & Crew :
Hamilton Henson – Captain, Director
with
Andrew Carey- Story Editor
Carly Palmour- Director of Photography
Thomas Walker- Techie
John Paul Snead- Lord Snarkleroy
Jessica May- Madame Sinair
Micah Russell- Assistant Director
Jake Green- Jake the Butler
William Mason- Sound Department
Natalie Riegel- Miss Peabody
Amber Gibson- The Duchess
Patrick Croce- Chief Firewater

And the third film is by a team led by Alex Beatty. The team includes Thomas Coiner and Johnathan Morris. Alex, Thomas, and Johnathan all work with the Center for Public TV & Radio.

Here and Now Cast & Crew :
Alex Beatty – Captain, Director, Editor, Writer
with
Thomas Coiner- Camera, Audio
Sarah Selleck- Actress
Hunter Barcroft- Audio
Craig Robertson- Actor
Kelley Jackson- Actress
Johnathan Morris- Camera, DP
Janie Wallace- Actress
Laura Willoughby- Actress
Nicolas Sweatt- Script Supervisior, Audio
Andrew Walker- Extra

They all did a great job, didn’t they? I’m really proud of them!

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Performance by Garry Burnside at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Garry Burnside is the son of the legendary bluesmaster R. L. Burnside who recorded for the Fat Possum label.

For more information:
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546399

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Sharde Thomas, grand-daughter of the late fife and drum master Otha Turner, performs “Stand By Me” and “Glory, Glory Halleluiah” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival.

For more information:
Article about Sharde Thomas
http://whyaminotsurprised.blogspot.com/2008/08/sharde-thomas-link-to-past-and-rising.html

http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546366

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Selections from several songs performed by Duwayne Burnside at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Duwayne Burnside is the son of the legendary bluesmaster R. L. Burnside who recorded for the Fat Possum label.

For more information:
Interview with Duwayne Burnside at
http://recoilmag.com/interviews/duwayne_burnside_0106.html

http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546363

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Documenting Justice is a specialized interdisciplinary course in documentary filmmaking that focuses on topics of social justice. Students devote two semesters to completing the class, which involves study in film theory, documentary history, nonfiction storytelling techniques, and the ethics of documentary and culminates in the creation of an original short documentary film. The class is designed for non-film majors, but those with production experience are encouraged to apply as well. Two films produced as a part of the international division of this course will screen at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The fall semester of the course is dedicated to instruction, exercises, and readings that familiarize students with the fundamentals of video production and their application to documentary. Assignments in production, theory, and criticism help students understand the practical and ethical issues in documentary filmmaking. By the end of the first semester, students will be comfortable with the techniques of production and will select topics for their films.

During the spring semester, students work in pairs to shoot and edit a documentary film. Demonstrating a concern for justice in Alabama, such pieces may focus on an individual, a relationship, an occurrence, an institution, a sub-culture, or a worldview. Students will become well acquainted with their subjects through extensive fieldwork, interviews, and research. In producing the final film, students will have access to state-of-the-art digital video cameras and post-production facilities at the College of Communication & Information Studies. The completed films premiere at a public screening in either Birmingham or Tuscaloosa at the end of the semester.

An award-winning group of filmmakers collaborate as instructors in this team-taught course: Andy Grace, director of Documenting Justice and member of the University of Alabama Department of Telecommunication & Film, and Rachel Morgan, adjunct instructor at UA and instructor of radio and TV at Lawson State Community College. The course also includes guest lectures from other professionals with expertise in documentary filmmaking.

Documenting Justice: International
Students complete the first semester before travelling, in conjunction with students enrolled in the Alabama section of Documenting Justice. During the spring semester or summer term, students take a camera and travel abroad – developing a film topic, working with their subjects, and capturing footage. During the following fall semester, students edit their films. A public screening is held in Tuscaloosa each November. (NOTE: Documenting Justice does not provide funds for international travel. Travel funding and arrangements are the responsibility of the student.)

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

For many people, the day after Thanksgiving is spent doing Christmas shopping. I’ll probably do some of that, but I’m looking forward to some great music too. Kenny Brown will be performing at Rooster’s Blues House in Tuscaloosa. Brown is widely known for his performances with the late blues artists R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. He is also the host of the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic which my wife and I attend every year.

Here’s an interview that was done with him a while back by Thirsty Ear Magazine and here’s some video I shot at the 2010 picnic:

Brown’s latest album, “Can’t Stay Long” features the two songs above and other recordings from the 2010 picnic on one CD and a second CD of acoustic songs recorded on his front porch. Here’s a review from Offbeat Magazine.

See ya there!

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.