Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Nobody's Coming to Save You

Adapted from August Wilson's play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tells the story of blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) and her band trying to record some of her most famous songs. Her trumpet player, Levee, has plans to take her spotlight as he tries to write his own songs and form his own band. What results is a single day filled with personal conflicts, racial tension, and philosophical quarrels. There's plenty of material here from which Don and Chuck can draw lessons, such as the commodification of black talent, not taking power you haven't earned, and the building pressure of being polite to your enemies. Music by Nathan Terry nterrymusic.com