Up From the Streets : The City of Music celebrates the culture of New Orleans as seen through the lens of music. The history of the city is distinct from any other in the US, and the music created here, a powerful form of expression. The film looks at the evolution of New Orleans music and how it has reflected the culture and times in which it was created. From the drums of enslaved Africans at Congo Square to the explosion of musical styles that continue to be created out of those rhythms today, the music has provided strength in times of despair, and joy for this city that loves to celebrate. Personal reflections by native New Orleanian and musician, Terence Blanchard, along with commentaries by critics and musicians including: Alan Light, Ben Jaffe, Big Freedia, Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Keith Richards, Mannie Fresh, PJ Morton, Robert Plant, Steve Gadd, Sting, Wynton Marsalis, along with performances by a host of musicians from New Orleans paint the picture of this city of music. The sounds and rhythms of New Orleans were the foundation of American music, and continue to carry the torch of liberating expression into the future.
