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#1 2009-05-02 15:24:07
- ray
- Member
- Posts: 43
Jazz on A Summer's Day
I know it's probably old news for most of you fellas, but I just got Jazz on A Summer's Day on DVD in the mail a few days ago. Good lord, if you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and get a copy. When I die I don't want to go to heaven, I want to go to the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.
#3 2009-05-03 00:50:16
- Just Jim
- Member
- Posts: 1159
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
Are there any out-takes anywhere still existing?
It's a film which always leaves me wanting more.
#4 2009-05-03 04:22:25
- chetmiles
- Member
- Posts: 1099
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
I find the film a bit frustrating to be honest. Too much artsy fucking around, ruining Monk's set. Worth watching for Guiffre and Anita O'Day, though, definitely.
#5 2009-05-03 04:23:29
- chetmiles
- Member
- Posts: 1099
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
Staceyboy might know the ins and outs about out-takes.
#7 2009-05-03 07:14:26
- chetmiles
- Member
- Posts: 1099
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
It didn't help that the director had little feeling for his subject.
#10 2009-05-03 20:24:50
- ray
- Member
- Posts: 43
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
Yeah, I can understand some of the criticisms of the movie. I didn't say I wanted to go to "Jazz on a Summer's Day" when I died, I said I wanted to go to the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Heaven or Newport in '58, I'm sure Mahalia will be there.
#11 2009-05-04 09:07:13
- tintin
- Member
- Posts: 105
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
Ray- If you like the doc - - you may wanna check out the background. Last year I saw a restored print and Bert Stern was there to answer questions following the screening. He was going to do a fictional love story with the festival as the back drop. Hence, the soft focus shots of the blonde and the party in the victorian house (which was on Long Island). Stern admits to having lost his way and was overwhelmed with the footage (too much). He gave a lot credit to the editor, Aram Avakian, for turning it into what we see today and I think it's a masterpiece.
There's a great bio on Dinah Washington and the author covers her performance. Also, look for "High Times Hard Times" by Anita O'Day. A great story about her drug addiction, where she bought the dress and hat and how high she was when she performed that afternoon. There's also a wonderful DVD out with TV performances of O'Day in Tokyo in 1963 as well as a doc that was made just before died.
Stern admitted to having hundreds of hours of footage that was never used. Someone in the audience volunteered to assist but was shot down by Stern who claimed a lot of footage was not up to snuff due to a wrong lens he used as well as some sync issues. I watch this film and just wonder why Stern didn't make more films. There's so much of Stern, the still photographer that comes out in this doc.
#12 2021-11-01 05:12:19
- A Fine Sadness
- Member
- Posts: 3009
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
While I'm in a kind of 'Golden Age USA' mood and because Hank is back amongst us, a bump for this.
I've grown more tolerant of the movie, its age and ambience as I've grown older. My old man was never really impressed, though. He'd have liked a lot more of Monk to be sure. I think the two Johns, S and G, are admirers of Chico Hamilton. I still like Guiffre and Anita the best, but also dig the gospel vibe. Anita was supposed to have been very, very high during her set. But would it have been horse? Surely she would have been nodding instead of keyed up? What a honey...
#13 2021-12-13 16:29:22
- A Fine Sadness
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- Posts: 3009
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
Just finished watching. Enjoyed every minute of it - including the audience grooving, many in Ivy.
#14 2021-12-13 16:32:27
- A Fine Sadness
- Member
- Posts: 3009
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
I think my daughters will give Amazon vouchers for Christmas. If so - Mahalia Jackson is well to the top of my list.
#15 2021-12-14 05:13:58
- A Fine Sadness
- Member
- Posts: 3009
Re: Jazz on A Summer's Day
After watching - observing - I rather fancy that shirt, shorts, white socks, loafers combination. In absolute homage to the time, the place, the atmosphere, the music, everything, I've just bought an old stock Madras cap from a seller in Richmond, VA. The kind of American seller I never can resist is the one who informs the prospective buyer that his mom was in the antiques business for many years but that he still has plenty to learn. He gets my $40.
Damn, but I've always been a pushover for Madras - except those awful canvas shoes.