Movin' on Up: The Music and Message of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions

This stirring documentary looks first at the Chicago trio that brought Curtis Mayfield to fame, then at the soft-spoken solo artist behind the stunning Super Fly soundtrack. The Impressions lineup featured singer/songwriter/guitarist Mayfield (1942-1999), and vocalists Fred Cash and Sam Gooden. Together with producer/arranger Fred Pate, the four men constructed the group's gospel-oriented sound (Mayfield's bandmates kept going after he left in 1970). Combining recollections from Cash, Gooden, Pate, Ambassador Andrew Young, Carlos Santana, Public Enemy's Chuck D, and wife Altheida Mayfield, along with 1960s television appearances, 1970s gigs and promotional clips, and 1980s interviews, this two-part portrait celebrates both Mayfield's musical gifts and his message of equality, with Young pointing out that “[Mayfield] was always one of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement.” As an overview, Movin' on Up does a fine job, although even with approximately 20 featured songs, there are some notable omissions (including 1961's “Gypsy Woman”). Presented in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, DVD extras include five rare performances and bonus interviews. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)