Sweetwater - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Here's one that snuck up on us & became a pleasant surprise...

At the same time the NBA began desegregating in 1950, the swing era was giving way to a renaissance period involving jazz, blues and other genres. Both seismic shifts play central roles in the film Sweetwater.

The film draws its storyline from the life of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first Black man to sign an NBA contract. Portrayed by newcomer Everett Osborne, Clifton endured racism and other challenges on his journey from Arkansas to Chicago and from Army vet to playing with the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the New York Knicks. Touted in the film as “the man who changed the game,” the Hall of Famer’s energetic playing style — what the NBA team owners dismiss as “razzle dazzle” in the film — was the precursor to fellow legends such as Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other contemporary NBA stars. Additional members of the cast include Kevin Pollak, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Ri’chard. The film was written and directed by Martín Guigui.

The all-star soundtrack album is a celebration of jazz & blues - featuring a variety of styles. From period era standards to original contemporary tracks inspired by the indelible spirit and courage of Sweetwater Clifton. Classics like “The Man I Love” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” - performed by Emmaline as Jeannie Staples in the film - sit beside powerful new songs inspired by the film, like Keb’ Mo’s “Take Me Higher”, Larkin Poe’s “Right Place Right Time”, and Terri Lyne Carrington and Dianne Reeves modern interpretation of “Someone To Watch Over Me.” The recording’s celebrated lineup also includes Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolf, Liyah Bey, Rick Braun, Paul Hipp, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, PWP Works of Art and Titus Makin.

The film is out in limited release & we're hoping that it may find its way to our Colonial Theatre sometime in the not-too-distant future so we can experience these songs and the story of Nat Clifton to the fullest extent possible.

Here's a taste of a track or two: