(1971) 4 Richie Unterberger Filmed in Ghana in early 1971, Soul to Soul is perhaps less interesting for its musical concert sequences (those certainly have some impressive moments) as for its documentation of an intriguing event for both African and African-American culture. It was, in a sense, a homecoming for several major African-American performers to their ancestral roots (though one of the prominent acts on the bill, Santana, had just one African-American). It was also one of the first opportunities Africans had to witness major African-American popular musicians in concert, and the first on such a large festival scale. There was actually some awkwardness involved; the visiting musicians did not know a whole lot about African culture, and their audience wasn't all that familiar with the visitors, with the exception of Wilson Pickett. While the film captures some of that awkward but ultimately fairly successful exchange, the movie itself is a bit awkward, shifting between on-stage clips of Pickett, Santana, Ike & Tina Turner, the Staple Singers, Les McCann & Eddie Harris, and Voices of East Harlem with scenes (some involving the American musicians, some not) of Ghanaian life -- a wedding, a funeral, the marketplace, villagers in the countryside, a former slave castle. The concert sequences are the ones in which the most casual viewers will be primarily interested, and they're good if sometimes short of stunning, the highlights being Ike & Tina Turner's earthy soul (with the Ikettes in tow); Santana, who come off better than anyone in their intense renditions of "Jungle Strut" and "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen," even though keyboardist Gregg Rolie's instrumental equipment wasn't wholly functional; and Pickett, whose "In the Midnight Hour" and extended "Land of 1000 Dances" get the most rapturous reception. Some African music and ceremonial rites are also shown, and another high point is when Ghanaian musician Amoah Azangeo plays the calabash almost as if he's playing on the basketball court. Note that the sequences involving Roberta Flack have, unfortunately, been omitted from the DVD release at Flack's request.

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Soul to Soul (1971)

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Suitable for Children

genres

Music

sub-genres

category

Documentary

directed by

Denis Sanders

countries

USA

released

1971

run time

96 min.

produced by

Cinerama, Nigram-Aura, Ghana Arts

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by Hal Erickson synopsis

No longer professionally linked to his brother Terry Sanders, screenwriter/director Denis Sanders returned to the documentary format in which he'd started his career in the mid-1960s. After enjoying success with the up-close-and-personal Elvis: That's the Way It Is, Sanders decided to focus his attention on the world of gospel music. His 1971 feature-length documentary Soul to Soul follows a group of American gospel luminaries during a tour of Ghana, celebrating the 14th anniversary of that country's independence. Featured performers include Wilson Pickett, Ike and Tina Turner, Santana, Roberta Flack, Les McCann, The Staple Singers, Willie Bobo and Eddie Harris. Soul to Soul proved to be Denis Sander's last documentary effort; his next film was the love it-or-hate it horror spoof Invasion of the Bee Girls.

characteristics

- Music

- Tribute-concert

- Jazz

- Gospel-music

- Concert

- Anniversary