BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON’S LIFE IN THE BLUES
California premiere
DOCS
US 2022, 86 min, Director: Bestor Cram
Largely credited with introducing the blues to rock audiences, Grammy-winning singer, harmonica player, and songwriter James Cotton gets a fitting tribute in this vibrant documentary portrait. Born on a plantation in Tunica, Mississippi, James Henry Cotton picked up his mother’s harmonica as a youngster and taught himself to play. His talent and drive brought him to the attention of blues great Sonny Boy Williamson, an eventual mentor, and to Chicago, where Cotton played harmonica with Muddy Waters for 12 years. A dazzling, three-decade-plus solo career inspired him to reimagine how the blues could be received and appreciated. Cotton, who died in 2017, speaks via unearthed video interviews in Bestor Cram’s insightful film, while interviews with Cotton’s contemporaries, including Buddy Guy, Billy Branch, and Steve Miller, further flesh out the artist’s profile. Fiery live sets and impressive archival footage reveal the depth and wonder of Cotton’s talent. —Wilfred Okiche
Guests expected: director Bestor Cram, producer Judith Laster, producer-musician James Montgomery
