Gil
Scott-Heron in Black Wax (1982/MVD Visual Blu-ray)
Picture:
C Sound: B Extras: D Film: C+
In
Robert Mugge's Black Wax (1982), Gil Scott-Heron explains his
music and some of his own ideas of his time. Through Blues and Jazz
music, Scott-Heron represents the African American minority and the
culture they lived through in the 70s. While government and society
focused positive of the time, Heron reminds the people of the
minority and those who still had the 'Blues'.
Gil Scott Heron
was an African American musician who considers himself a
'Bluesologist', someone who is scientific in blue music. His music
was like a fusion of Blues, Jazz and Rap. His music and idea takes a
unique look at times and how people were effected by them, mainly
those who were not in mainstream profit economy or minorities (which
made him seem 'un-American' by some for representing them). His life
and music showed the treatment and discrimination of racial
differences and classes.
This is thus a fully realized
documentary of the life and blues (music and personal life) of Gil
Scott-Heron. One thing I always fell made Blues and Jazz music so
much more richer was, when they were compared to other music, was
there was a story behind the song and the lyrics. Unfortunately, the
1080p 1.33 X 1 color image in a 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 frame & shot on
16mm film (first to use a Steadicam throughout) looked like someone
ripped it off of VHS more than to, so the video and simple stereo
sound quality recorded at the time could only go so far. There are
no extras, but the portrait of a musician ahead if his time is great
to have in print and runs 78 minutes.
-
Ricky Chiang
