FunkJazz Kafe

Hopefully you read my post yesterday regarding Viva Riva! at the National Black Arts Festival. Today I want to tell you about FunkJazz Kafe: Diary of a Decade, which I also saw during the NBAF Film Series.

I loved this documentary. Atlanta has a rich musical history; however there have been periods of time that have left a profound impact not only on this region but on the world. One of those being from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s when a cultural, musical, and, for some, spiritual movement was born at the FunkJazz Kafe arts and music festival.

This movie is the story of a cultural legend as told by the innovators of an important, and in some cases overlooked, era in Black culture. From the rise of the FunkJazz Kafe, to exploring the definition of soul music, and contending that there is a far-reaching conspiracy to silence it, Diary of a Decade is a story of an often overlooked era in Black music and culture. FunkJazz Kafe looks at a decade when Atlanta's underground music scene became established on the world stage and a new generation of soul singers and musicians arose.

Watch the extended trailer below to see commentary and performances from some of the greats: Professor Grif, Raphael Saadiq, Janelle Monae, Bone Crusher, Andre 3000, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jill Scott, DJ Kemit, The Chronicle, Roy Ayers, MC Lyte, Common, Dick Gregory, Jamal Ahmad, Algebra, N'Dea Davenport, Jaime Foxx, Joi Gilliam, Caron Wheeler, Dallas Austin, Doug E. Fresh, Speech, Talib Kweli, Ray Murray, Cee Lo Green, Eric Roberson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Goodie Mob, Van Hunt, Loose Ends, Anthony David, Cornel West, Larry Mizell, George Clinton, Chuck D, and Stickman of Dead Prez.