PBS is currently working on a new documentary project dubbed American Epic, a three-part documentary series, with Jack White, T Bone Burnett, and Robert Redford as executive producers. American Epic explores early recording technology from the 1920’s and how it captured the sounds of some of the first musicians formative to the genres of blues, country, gospel, Hawaiian, Cajun, and folk music. Ahead of the premiere of the documentary series premiere on June 6th, NPR has shared a video of the Alabama Shakes.
Brittany Howard and her band are led into the studio by Jack White, then perform “Killer Diller, a song originally recorded by Memphis Minnie in 1946.
“In 1925, the first electrical sound recording system was invented. Only a few of these systems were ever made, and there is now only one in the world,” the video reads. “All of the musical performances in this film are live. The audio you hear is taken directly from the discs they were recorded to, with no editing or enhancements.”
Watch the one-take performance below:
This video comes second to Jack White and the legendary hip-hop artist Nas performing on a modernized version of Memphis Jug Band’s 1928 song “On the Road Again.” Watch that here.
The series will also feature a full-length movie called The American Epic Sessions, during which various musicians come together to record on the primitive recording technology of the 1920’s. Artists to appear on The American Epic Sessions include Jack White, Beck, Elton John, Nas, Willie Nelson, the Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Los Lobos and Steve Martin & Edie Brickell, and the film will be released on June 6th.