Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959)
Genre: Documentary / Music
Duration: 85 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Aram Avakian and Bert Stern
Stars: Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson and Gerry Mulligan
IMDb score:
7,9 (2.172)
Releasedate: 28 March 1960
Jazz on a Summer's Day plot
"...love on a summer's night!"
Recording of the performances of some of the greatest jazz legends at the Newport Jazz Festival which took place in July 1958, to coincide with the America's Cup Race for sailboats. Greats such as Thelonious Monk, Etta James and and Big Maybelle are part of the line-up, as well as the then just broke through Chuck Berry and the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
Reviews & comments
mrklm
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- 12190 messages
- 10362 votes
An absolute must for jazz lovers, as some of the greatest jazz artists are seen here at the peak of their abilities. Most of the attention goes to Louis Armstrong and closing act Mahalia Jackson, but Anita O'Day particularly impresses with a brilliant interpretation of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and the inimitable "Tea For Two," which she concludes with a scat duet with her band. Gerry Mulligan (still active!) excels with his sax solo, and Dinah Washington has a blast in a xylophone duel.
This concert film is clearly at its best when the camera focuses on the artists, who perform their music with equal parts finesse and enjoyment. It's striking how integrated the jazz scene is: white and black musicians perform together as a matter of course. The audience shots are unfortunately poorly edited, as it's often clear they're out of sync with the music. This is a distracting element, but it doesn't detract from the musical quality of the performances.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Vidi well
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- 553 messages
- 722 votes
A particularly beautiful picture of the times with wonderful music.
Besides many excellent performances by various artists, the camera also frequently looks around the audience: we see people eating, drinking, talking, laughing, smoking, kissing, and dancing. Because almost no one seems aware of the cameras, this film feels very spontaneous and fresh. We see people enjoying themselves in a sun-drenched park, and it's simply delightful to watch. It's like sitting on a terrace for hours, watching people go by.
The performances are also beautifully shot. Personally, I love long shots, especially during musical scenes, and this film has plenty of them. You can really watch the musicians and become absorbed in the music. The film also has a beautiful opening, with all the shots of rippling water and reflections. I saw it as a metaphor for the dynamics of jazz.
I found the midway montage, where we see people dancing and partying in a house, a minor drawback. While it does capture the atmosphere of a place completely dedicated to jazz for a weekend, some shots felt staged (the foaming beer bottles) and therefore less authentic. I'm not sure if this is actually the case, but that scene didn't fit the film's style as well.
I'm glad I saw this on the big screen (Louis Hartloper - Utrecht).
4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31272 messages
- 5512 votes
A wonderful recording of what seems like a small festival compared to its bigger brothers like Monterey Pop or Woodstock. But it looks cozy, you can feel the summer warmth, and the lineup is impressive. I do miss a bit more of that atmosphere. Following the bartender with his tray heaped with pints and the people dancing to the music on the rooftop terrace, you were completely immersed in the atmosphere of the day. That could have been conveyed a bit more. Although, of course, the music itself makes up for a lot. The performances are limited to one or two songs per artist, so it never gets tedious. A fun documentary, and I would have loved to have been there that day.
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