Studio: E1 Entertainment Release Date: 09/16/2003 Run time: 60 minutes

BUKKA WHITE AND SON HOUSE (DVD MOVIE)

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The mumbled monologues and inaudible introductions by Son House almost made me feel sorry for him, not in a negative way, but in a way that I wanted to do something for him, to help him have more courage. The more I viewed him and was able to decipher the words I realized his forthrightness in speaking this way to an audience who was so foreign to him and I was overwhelmed with his honesty and sincerity.

The music itself is spellbinding and reaches the very heart and soul of an open-minded listener. The beat he taps with his shoe while playing creates an almost otherwordly aura around this music that I believe to be of the deepest expression men have ever conveyed through sound. This beat is at the root of all popular music today, although this expression is unparalleled. How is it that an uneducated man from an oppressed group of people can be so wise and able to communicate through music this wisdom? He had true wisdom which doesn't come from knowledge, it comes from truth, or as House puts it, "from above."

All this I gathered from his monologues but I don't want to take away from the pure simplicity of Son House's music. Yet it is hard for me to understand the music, being a white man in another world from House, separated in this regard but united as men. I can see the lines on his face and the pure humanity of his words and I struggle to understand the deep expression of his music and my love for it.

Son House had quit playing the guitar completely for years and was working regular jobs when he was rediscovered by men with an interest in exploring America's musical direction and preserving the blues.

Anyone with similar motives should look into this DVD, or anyone that simply loves the blues. The segments of Bukka White are a testimony to his influence and greatness. This is the blues at it's raw core, without electricity or accompaniment, gloriously simple but simply glorious!

In this age of technology, there's mass media, quick entertainment and television politicians, it's hard to know just who or what to believe anymore. Listen to the words of Son House, "I love a snake if I wasn't scared of him, but I can't trust him. Somebody said the snake that lays an egg ain't poisonous, but I don't trust none of 'em, I don't care how many eggs he lay..."

14 of 16 found the following review helpful:

Two of the best.Aug 08, 1999

This is a transfer to video of an old TV program. Son House and Bukka White perform before a live Seattle studio audience.

Both are excellent, of course, but Son House's time on stage is something strange and special. After finishing a blues number he'll get to his feet, shakily lay his guitar down, and perform an unaccompanied spiritual. But before he starts he delivers odd mumbled monologues - alomost inaudable - about how he hasn't left God, he is still pious even though he sings the blues, etc. The audience doesn't know quite what to make of all this. Son House was a man with a lot on his mind.

7 of 8 found the following review helpful:

Nothing like seeing real, old time bluesmen in action...Apr 27, 2005
By Chet L. Young
Blues does not get any more genuine than this! These are black-and-white performances, filmed in Seattle in 1965, showing both Son House and Booker White(by all accounts he hated being referred to as "Bukka") at the height of their powers.

Son plays his two best songs, "Death Letter Blues" and "Preachin' the Blues", as well as two a capella gospel numbers. It's incredible to watch his transformation from a frail, shy older man(during his introductions to the songs) to a raging, masterful performer, pounding his National guitar and singing like you've never heard anyone sing before.

Booker's set is a bit longer, opening with his anthem "Aberdeen, Mississippi". Younger than Son, he tears through the performance at full throttle, singing in a gravelly voice and strumming propulsively(the train-like momentum is THE hallmark of Booker's music). The highlights for me are "Mama Don't Allow" and "Poor Boy"...I'm in heaven when I hear songs like this.

Interestingly, the small audience(you don't see them, but it's evident that only a handful of people are present) applauds Son, but not Booker. I've always wondered why this was. At any rate, get this DVD! If you're a country blues fan and you haven't seen it, you're really missing out.

3 of 4 found the following review helpful:

old blues at it's bestSep 16, 2005
By Debra L. Watts "Bill&Debbie"
This is old blues, as close to first generation as you can get on film. Two different styles both very emotional. Son House gives an emotional performance but his performance is too short. I would have loved to seen more by him but there is only so much film of these old players. His conversation about his life during his performance (though limited) gives good insight to his personality and his perspective of life. That alone is worth watching the video.

Bukka White's performance is also excellent. No one quite plays and sings like Bukka. He has a driving style of playing and a voice like none other. One song is done on a piano, which shows a different aspect of Bukka, which I was not aware of before. I've seen two films of Bukka and this one is the best. The funny thing is that Bukka White looks quite serious in the filming but actually has quite a sense of humor and is a funny storyteller. You get more of an idea of his personality through his recorded conversations about reflections of Charley Patton and his telling the funny story of Mixed Water, both which can be found on his recordings.

If you love blues then this film gets you as close to what you would have seen in their time. If you are a blues player, then there are good close up shots of both players and how they are playing.

2 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Got to give me a chance to get my tools out...May 26, 2006
By Josh Z. Bonder "a sound painter"
This is the first footage I ever saw of either Son House or Bukka White, and it nearly knocked me over! Being familiar with many of the songs these monolithic figures of Delta blues typically perform, it was a near religious experience to see them performing favourites like Death Letter Blues, John the Revelator, Preachin' the Blues, Aberdeen Mississippi Blues, and Poor boy. While I wasn't quite as familiar with some of the other material, it proved equally stunning; from Son House sermonizing between songs, to Bukka White playing the piano for one track. Moreover, as characters both people are highly fascinating to watch, particularly in response to being filmed and placed in front of a television audience. Son House seems simultaneously bemused and bewildered, while White uses the opportunity to really strut his stuff. After having seen numerous other films of these artists, this one holds up as one of the best: They are not yet so aged that their skills have depleted, and Bukka's playing in particular is fiercer and less resigned than any other performance I've seen of his. So the verdict; if you have any interest in these artists, and like me were not yet alive to see them perform, this is your best chance. Also, if you enjoy this and are looking for other great Delta/country blues videos, "Devil Got My Woman" is a superb document of these artists plus Skip James, Howlin' Wolf and Rev. Pearly Brown playing in a juke joint setting. Also, the series "Masters of Country Blues" has proven rewarding time and time again. This is your chance to see some legendary bluesmen in stunning live performances, what more could you ask for?

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