Overview: A stunning exploration of fading juke joint traditions at the heart of Mississippi blues culture, with Morgan Freeman.

DVD Verdict: Director Robert Mugge, having made the film 'Deep Blues' (1991) - about the blues traditions of Mississippi - and who followed it up with a tribute to Alligator and its roster of top contemporary blues artists from Chicago and elsewhere re: 'Pride And Joy: The Story Of Alligator Records', now presents a stunning look at the last of the Mississippi juke joints.

In truth, and as much as I'm surprised that no one has written anything about this documentary's preservation efforts of the Subway Lounge in Jackson MS since it was filmed and put out in 2003, 'Last of the Mississippi Jukes' is a must-have fall all fans of both director Robert Mugge and the genre itself.

Mugge's 2003 Starz- funded music documentary chronicles the final days of Jimmy King's legendary Subway Lounge in Jackson, Mississippi and the early days of Morgan Freeman's and Bill Luckett's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

This aforementioned lounge, in the basement of the Summers Hotel faced closure as the hotel was in disrepair, but many, many fine blues acts and notables like Morgan Freeman offered their assistance in saving one of last of the old Mississippi jukes. Watching, and listening to all the music this fine documentary expels, I personally thoroughly enjoyed the entire musical feast. The lounge music we hear is sublime, mesmerizing, and hearing about the history of the hotel and area is just like being there in the club, drinking alongside side them.

The music is performed at the Subway Lounge in Jackson, MS by Bobby Rush, Chris Thomas King, Vasti Jackson, Patrice Moncell, Eddie Cotton, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Lucille, Abdul Rasheed, Levon Lindsey, J.T. Watkins, Dennis Fountain, Pat Brown, George Jackson, Steve Cheseborough, Casey Phillips, Jimmy King, David Hughes, Virgil Brawley, and the Subway's two alternating house bands: the House Rockers and the King Edward Blues Band.

Sadly, after this film was made, the Summers hotel and the Subway lounge were demolished in 2004. But, the owner, Jimmy King, has reopened the lounge again in another building in Jackson, so we can only hope that one brings in the talent it deserves to be heard, along with keeping the flame of the old Mississippi Jukes alive. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Bonus Features of a Video Update and a Complete Former Soundtrack CD.