Soul Power

James Brown, B.B. King, the Spinners, Miriam Makeba and others perform in concert in the days leading up to the 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire.

Soul Power -- Clip: The beat would return to the roots

Soul Power -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)

Interview with director Jeffrey Levy-Hinte on Soul Power, who explains how he began working on this documentary.

Interview with Bill Withers on Soul Power, who explains his involvement in the original event and what audiences will take away from the documentary.

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with The Rumble in the Jungle, the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS. SOUL POWER is a verit documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed Zaire 74 ), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. SOUL POWER is crafted from the extensive outtakes that remained after making WHEN WE WERE KINGS, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The outtakes have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young, SOUL POWER finally provides today s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory.

Soul Power -- A documentary on the legendary soul music concert staged in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974.

Clip from Soul Power shows the backup dancers warming up for the concert.

Extended clip from Soul Power featuring Big Black.

Soul Power -- kino-zeit.de - Trailer (Flash)

Clip from Soul Power shows a press conference with a young James Brown, who claims that he is performing with a very talented group of musicians including BB King.

The trailer for Sony Pictures Classics' Soul Power. In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with The Rumble in the Jungle, the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS. SOUL POWER is a verit documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed Zaire 74 ), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. SOUL POWER is crafted from the extensive outtakes that remained after making WHEN WE WERE KINGS, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The outtakes have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young, SOUL POWER finally provides today s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory.