Film festivals, screenings and talks harlem one stop. Even when the photograph in question involves some of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived, building a film around a static subject like a photograph is not an easy task. Aug 25, 2011 narrated by quincy jones, a great day in harlem masterfully recalls what was most likely the reatest assembly of jazz musicians ever at one place. This documentary tells the background story of how a wonderful portrait of some of the worlds greatest jazz musicians was made in harlem in 1958. A great day in harlem dives into the story behind the picture in detail, incorporating the priceless, joyinfused super8 footage that mona hinton, milts wife, shot during the session. The whole audacious idea was conceived by a man who none of the musicians knew, 33yearold art kane, who had made a name for himself as a magazine art director but whose passion was photography.
Jean bachs film takes one simple object as its central subject, art kanes famous 1958 photograph of nearly 30 jazz giants gathered on the steps of a harlem brownstone, and gathers as many stories relating to the. Art kane, now deceased, coordinated a group photograph of all the top jazz musicians in nyc in the year 1958, for a piece in esquire magazine. Jazz documentarian jean bach has taken a piece of business that didnt fit in her oscarnominated 1995 film a great day in harlem the late bebop innovator dizzy gillespie telling the tale of. Jean bachs a great day in harlem 1994 documentary film. Narrated by quincy jones, a great day in harlem masterfully recalls what was most likely the reatest assembly of jazz musicians ever at one place. A great day in harlem withinearshot jazz festival at. In august of 1958, in front of a harlem brownstone, firsttime photographer art kane assembled 57 of the greatest jazz stars of all time and snapped a picture that would live forever. The documentary compiles interviews of many of the musicians in the photograph to talk about the day of the photograph, and it shows film footage taken that day by milt hinton and his wife. Bach described how, upon the films release, a number of similar photographs employed the a great day in theme. Still, while i was aware of the picture, i knew nothing of its deep history until three years later when former radio producer jean bach directed the academy award nominated documentary a great day in harlem. Dvd documentary on the anatomy of historic jazz photo. A great day exhibitions the gordon parks foundation. A great day in harlem 1994 a great day in harlem 1994.
Jean bachs film takes one simple object as its central subject. A great day in harlem is an hourlong documentary film that brings to life a remarkable moment in the history of jazz a moment in which dozens of americas. A great day in harlem memorializing a footnote to jazz history, the documentary a great day in harlem recalls the events and personalities surrounding a 1958 photo shoot for esquire magazine that. Held in a place so many historical, cultural and entertainment influences have called home, i consider the festival to be a real gem. Jean bach does the seemingly impossible with a great day in harlem. Chronicling the day that the photograph was shot, she incorporated archival photos and super 8 footage that had been shot by bassist milton hiltons wife, mona. The documentary compiles interviews of all the top jazz musicians in. Director jean bach acquired an original home movie showing the 1958 photo shoot from musician milt hinton.
But the organization occasionally gets it right, as it did by nominating 1994s a great day in harlem for best documentary feature. A great day in harlem is the story of a great photograph. The picture was taken by freelance photographer art kane for esquire magazine on august 12, 1958. Oct 20, 2017 a great day in harlem is an hourlong documentary film that brings to life a remarkable moment in the history of jazz a moment in which dozens of americas jazz legends unexpectedly gathered together for a photograph that would become emblematic of the golden age of jazz. The musicians were gathered at 17 east 126th street between fifth and madison avenue. Bach to make her first film, about the photo, released in 1994. Packed with lively interviews with the subjects, performances. At two university of idaho librarys special collections and archives workshops at 1. It was inspired by the famous photograph of the same name by art kane. This acclaimed and legenday photo was made in 1958 on a street in harlem, new york.
A great day in harlem harlem 58 the photograph part. Even when the photograph in question involves some of the greatest jazz musicians. The documentary compiles interviews of all the top jazz musicians in nyc in the year 1958, for a piece in esquire magazine. With dizzy gillespie, milt hinton, marian mcpartland, art blakey. A documentary film about the life of pianist and jazz great thelonious sphere monk.
A laudable exception is a great day in harlem, opening tomorrow at bay area theaters, a lovely documentary inspired by a famous photograph of 57 jazz musicians assembled on a harlem stoop one. Bach, a journalist active in television and radio produced for 24 years the toprated the arlene francis program, talk show in new york, and also managed her husband. Jean bach, a radio producer of new york, recounted the story behind the photograph in her 1994 documentary film, a great day in harlem. The photograph is also the focus for jean bachs wonderful documentary, a great day in harlem. Feb 25, 2014 a great day in harlem is a wonderful documentary about a seemingly hohum subject the taking of a photograph. A great day in harlem 1994, directed by jean bach film. Documentary a great day in harlem featured in jazz festival. Feb 26, 2014 a great day in harlem is the story of a great photograph and much more. Henry red allen 1958 excerpt from a great day in harlem. A great day in harlem, the famous jazz group portrait taken in 1958, inspired ms. Jazz docu a great day in harlem art kane 1958 full youtube. This is a snapshot of a time when giants roamed the earth and moved musical mountains with the wave of a hand.
Nov 01, 2018 my great day in harlem documentary premiere by hailey stangebye as a part of our citywide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the harlem renaissance in columbus, we took five local, african american artists from columbus to harlem. Theres no place better to conclude black history month than in the black mecca harlem, n. A great day in harlem or harlem 1958 is a blackandwhite photograph of 57 jazz musicians in harlem, new york city. A fair portion of the film is devoted to that which lead up to the photograph. Jean bach, a radio producer of new york, recounted the story behind it in her 1994 documentary film, a great day in harlem. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The story behind the iconic a great day in harlem photo. Just about every jazz musician at the time showed up for the photo shoot which took place in front of a brownstone near the 125th. A great day in harlem is a 1994 american documentary film directed by jean bach about the photograph of the same name.
The oscar nominated film by jean bach provides a behind the scenes account of a celebrated photo shoot of jazz musicians in harlem in 1958. Montclair, nj jazz documentary film seriesa great day in harlem. A great day in harlem is an hourlong documentary film that brings to life a remarkable moment in the history of jazz a moment in which dozens of americas jazz legends unexpectedly gathered together for a photograph that would become emblematic of the golden age. Through remarkable interviews with nearly 30 jazz greats including dizzy gillespie, sonny rollins and art blakey, home movies shot by milt and mona hinton, and rare, archival performance footage, a great day in harlem tells the story behind a legendary photograph that is still alive and kicking and jammin. The film was nominated in 1995 for an academy award for documentary feature. This oscar nominated documentary chronicles a single event amongst jazz musicians. The musicians had gathered on 126th street, between fifth and madison avenues in harlem. A great day in harlem official trailer a great day in harlem is an engaging hourlong documentary recalling a 1950s photo session which assembled and immortalized some great names in jazz. Rent a great day in harlem the spitball story 1998 starring quincy jones and dizzy gillespie on dvd and bluray. The photograph, which appeared in esquires january 1959 issue and became the focus of an oscarnominated documentary, a great day in harlem. August 30, 2004 anyone with the misconception that the spirit of a particular music is not a direct reflection of the souls of the musicians who created it must see a great day in harlem, jean. A must or should see for jazz fans, this film received an academy award nomination for best documentary feature. A great day in harlem photograph music the guardian. Bach described how, upon the films release, a number of similar photographs employed the a great day in.
This documentary concert film captures the sounds and performances of some of the major jazz artists at the 1958 newport jazz festival. I have participated in the harlem international film festival screenplay competition for years and have been honored to have my work recognized by hi in 2012 and 2015. Jean bachs a great day in harlem 1994 documentary film with supplementary features. It was nominated for an academy award for best documentary feature. A great day in harlem 1994 not rated 1h documentary, music 24 february 1995 usa art kane, now deceased, coordinated a group photograph of all the top jazz musicians in nyc in the year 1958, for a piece in esquire magazine. Netflixs black talent recreates iconic a great day in. Product description a great day in harlem 1994, 60 min. While the hanks movie might have been a disappointment, the same cant be said for jean bachs academy awardnominated 1994 documentary a great day in harlem. Jan 18, 2012 jean bach, a radio producer of new york, recounted the story behind it in her 1994 documentary film, a great day in harlem. A great day in harlem harlem 58 the photograph part 1.
On a summer morning in 1958, esquire magazine art director art kane assembled a remarkable array of the days leading jazz musiciansdizzy gillespie, sonny rollins, art blakey, hank jones, milt hinton, and othersin harlem for a group photograph that would go down in history. The story and sounds behind the most famous photo in the history of jazz. Dizzy gillespie, milt hinton, marian mcpartland, art blakey, gerry mulligan, horace silver, quincy jones, sonny rollins, buck clayton, hank jones, art farmer, johnny griffin, steve petropoulos, jean bach, matthew seig, stuart samuels, terrell braly, jean bach, matthew seig, susan peehl. A must or should see for jazz fans, this film received an academy award nomination for best documentary. A great day in harlem movie information cinema clock. Mar 29, 2019 at the twentieth anniversary of a great day in hiphopand the sixtieth anniversary of kanes original photo17 east 126th street has been lovingly restored and continues to tell the story of the shifting look, feel, and sound of harlem. Jean bach is the director and writer of the 1994 film a great day in harlem, an oscarnominated documentary about one of the most iconic images in jazz. Just about every jazz musician at the time showed up for the photo shoot which took place in front of a brownstone near the 125th street station. Rent a great day in harlem the spitball story 1998 on. Features live performances by monk and his band, and interviews with.
Harlem renaissance i too, sing america my great day in harlem. Photographer art kane took the most wonderful photograph in jazz history that features 57 of the best jazz musicians ever, titled, a great day in harlem. A great day in harlem is an hourlong documentary film that brings to life a remarkable moment in the history of jazz a moment in which dozens of americas jazz legends unexpectedly gathered. Yes, the once mostly africanamerican section of the city has gentrified a whole foods is currently being constructed but there are still historical and. Move your cursor over the photograph to identify each musician then click for bio. Harlem, new york city, around ten oclock in the morning, august 12 1958, on 126th street, between fifth and madison avenues photo. I recall first seeing the lauded and multiply awarded jazz documentary a great day in harlem a dozen or so years ago on pbs, and while not a jazz fan nor aficionado, it was a short film only an hour that seemed to compress much of jazz history into a convenient package. On that journey, they exchanged ideas, made new connections and gained a deeper understanding of the harlem. Fortyseven of netflixs phenomenal black talent from 20plus original shows, films and documentaries came together to create the photo a great day in hollywood, inspired by the iconic 1958 photo a great day in harlem. A great day in harlem is a wonderful documentary about a seemingly hohum subject the taking of a photograph. The documentary compiles interviews of many of the musicians in the photograph to talk about the day of the. Move your cursor over the photograph to identify each musician then.
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