New York, USA - The highly anticipated The Blues film series premieres today on PBS. Spearheaded by acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese, the series is accompanied by a comprehensive radio series, CD box set, and educational lesson guide, and is without a doubt the most ambitious and exhaustive collaboration ever celebrating and honoring the legacy of the Blues. The work and music of Alan Lomax is featured throughout the series, and appears prominently in the opening film, Scorsese's Feel Like Going Home. In fact, the opening image and music in this film is footage of the Young Brothers’ fife and drum band, taken by Alan. The series airs from September 28th through October 4th at 9pm on local PBS stations. http://www.pbs.org/theblues.

And on Tuesday, September 30th, Rounder Records is releasing Alan Lomax: Blues Songbook (Rounder Records, ROUNDER CD 1866). The second release in the new Alan Lomax Collection Songbook Series, Alan Lomax: Blues Songbook, presents some of the most exciting and prime examples of “the blues” as recorded by the twentieth century’s foremost folklorist, Alan Lomax. Two CDs of famous and obscure artists alike roll out a remarkable array (41 tracks) of blues from the country, the city, and the prison in this first-of-its-kind compilation overseen by the Lomax estate. Taken from five decades of Alan's best field recordings in the genre, Alan Lomax: Blues Songbook includes previously unreleased tracks and features new digital transfers using DSD technology. Here is blues at its source: original, impassioned, and utterly real. Preface by Martin Scorsese; introduction and song notes by John Cowley with additional song notes by David Evans.

Featuring: Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Blind Willie McTell, Vera Hall, Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Slim, Sonny Terry, Leadbelly, Boy Blue, Howlin’ Wolf, Skip James, Sam Chatmon, R. L. Burnside, David Honeyboy Edwards, Jelly Roll Morton, Muddy Waters, and many others.

[Buy Alan Lomax: Blues Songbook].