Alex Gibney’s documentary, Mr. Dynamite, limns the extraordinary rise of James Brown’s career, and more: interviews with his sidemen give a history of rhythm and blues, and race. Mick Jagger talks about coming to the Apollo to see James Brown and trying to simulate, and surpass, the legendary performer’s signature moves. Jazz musicians Fred Wesley and Christian McBride reveal the many ways that Brown’s unique talent and professional ethics transformed the music, how the theatrics of putting on a cape near the end of the act—borrowing from the world of boxing-- would lead to an encore, and how subbing for Little Richard on tour, styling himself with that makeup and adapting from his sound, led to Brown’s scream. Many who appear in the film were on hand for a premiere at the Time Warner Center on Monday night, including Mr. Wesley, Mr. McBride, Martha High who tells how James Brown changed her name, and the Reverend Al Sharpton.
Brown’s politics, including his endorsement of Humphrey for president, complete with singing a duet with the candidate, show his insistence on attempting to forge his own stance based on what’s best for the country. A brilliant assemblage of carefully archived material, Mr. Dynamite never skimps on Brown’s sound as it evolves, which is why this film, to air on HBO, is one of the most entertaining music films of the year.
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