Jazz on a Summer's Day @ Everyman Cinema, Newcastle - August 30

(Pic by Russell)

I first saw Jazz on a Summer's Day in 1959. I watched it in Newcastle, although I can't remember the cinema. I watched it again the following day in Sunderland and, once more, the name of the cinema escapes me. However, the film remained in my memory long after The Glenn Miller Story was  forgotten.

Since then I've watched JOASD on VHS, DVD and, after the 21st century came upon us, various clips on YouTube.

But, they all pale into insignificance compared to this latest enhanced version. This was almost like seeing your favourite movie live. The big screen, the sound system, you weren't sitting in a cinema but you were out there in Rhode Island falling in love with Anita O'Day, wishing you could play like Sonny Stitt maybe chatting up one of the girls in the audience with all that, hopefully, kiss proof lipstick.

Jazz on a Summer's Day is as iconic a film in jazz terms as Woodstock or Summer of Soul (which I have yet to see) were/are.

Seeing so many legends on stage in the most famous jazz festival of them all brought goosebumps and I frequently had to restrain myself from applauding the solos - that's how real it all came across.

Of course it wasn't just the music. If it had been filmed purely as a selection of concerts it would still have been an essential for your jazz video shelf  but maybe not one you would go back to too often. But, combine the music with Bert Stern's stunning photography and you get an artform that transcends music, photography, cinematography for something that incorporates all of those contributing factors. 

I found it interesting to see from the close ups how Sonny Stitt practically swallows the mouthpiece whereas Jimmy Giuffre barely touches it - just enough to get a sound. Their contrasting tones reflected by the different embouchures.

Away from the bandstand, the shots of the audience - everyone smoked - the kids running around (maybe one of them was a future star at Newport) the America's Cup yacht race and the hilarious shots of Eli's Chosen Six blowing a boisterous brand of Dixieland in and around the site - at onetime Roswell Rudd was with the band although I don't know if he made this gig.

Louis and Teagarden, Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington, Mahalia. Chuck Berry, Big Maybelle (and dig that Eddie Barefield clarinet solo!), Monk, Chico Hamilton, Buck Clayton... If seeing these guys (and gals) didn't get your pulse racing then maybe you should try rockabilly or Buddy Rich's allergy.

A couple of years earlier, Ellington stole the show. One of the numbers the band played that day was Blues to be There. That's how I felt today.

Check out your local Everyman Cinema. Lance