Film

The American Epic Sessions

2016 · 2h · Documentary · Music

Jack White and T Bone Burnett invite today’s greatest artists to test their skills against the long-lost machine that recorded their musical idols and forebears. The producers have, over a decade rebuilt, a 1920s recording system, timed by a weight-driven system of clockwork gears. Stripped of the comforts and security of modern technology, Nas, Elton John, Alabama Shakes, Steve Martin Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, are among the artists who have three minutes and one chance to get their music etched into a revolving wax disc, before the weight hits the floor. The results are career defining performances and the very definition of "Lighting In A Bottle".

Jack White

Self

T Bone Burnett

Self

Willie Nelson

Self

Merle Haggard

Self

Nas

Self

Elton John

Self

Alabama Shakes

Self

Beck

Self

Duke Erikson

Self

Ana Gabriel

Self

Rhiannon Giddens

Self

Bernard MacMahon

Self

Taj Mahal

Self

Allison McGourty

Self

Jerron Paxton

Self

Steve Martin

Self

• Bernard MacMahonDirector

Release date

March 16, 2016

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

2h

Genres

Documentary, Music