American Epic

In The American Epic Session you can see Taj Mahal, Jack White, Nas, Bettye LaVette, The Avett Brothers, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, and more record on equipment from the 1920s, with all its warmth and challenges. Meet some of the musicians here.

American Epic "is musical to tell this story of what’s wonderful about America because music is perhaps America’s greatest gift to the world," says filmmaker Bernard MacMahon. 

In the 1920s, homegrown American musicians recorded songs that became foundational in the development of American music, from country to blues to Cajun.The filmmaker of American Epic discusses those musicians and his documentary.