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Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959)

Not Rated | | Documentary, Music | 2 May 1960 (Sweden)
Jazz on a Summer's Day Poster
Set at the Newport jazz festival in 1958, this documentary mixes images of water and the town with performers and audience. The film progresses from day to night and from improvisational ... See full summary »

Directors:

Aram Avakian, Bert Stern

Writers:

Albert D'Annibale, Arnold Perl

Stars:

Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Chuck Berry | See full cast & crew »
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On Disc

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1 win. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louis Armstrong ... Himself
Mahalia Jackson ... Herself
Gerry Mulligan Gerry Mulligan ... Himself
Dinah Washington ... Herself
Chico Hamilton ... Himself
Anita O'Day ... Herself
George Shearing ... Himself
Jimmy Giuffre ... Himself
Chuck Berry ... Himself
Jack Teagarden ... Himself
Thelonious Monk ... Himself
Big Maybelle Big Maybelle ... Herself
Sonny Stitt Sonny Stitt ... Himself
Eli's Chosen Six Eli's Chosen Six ... Themselves
David Baily David Baily ... Himself
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Set at the Newport jazz festival in 1958, this documentary mixes images of water and the town with performers and audience. The film progresses from day to night and from improvisational music to Gospel. It's a concert film that suggests peace and leisure, jazz at a particular time and place. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

national film registry | jazz | concert film | jazz score | See All (4) »

Taglines:

Their Songs and Music Set the Musical Mood

Genres:

Documentary | Music

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1960 (Sweden) See more »

Also Known As:

Jazz à Newport See more »

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Galaxy Productions (I), Raven Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Bert Stern, when trying to retrieve his archives from Spain, offered the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a division of the New York Public Library, all the footage of the film, along with the outtakes, in return for their paying the outstanding $50,000 storage bill and shipping them back to New York. See more »

Connections

Featured in Keith Richards: The Origin of the Species (2016) See more »

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User Reviews

 
a remarkable documentary visually and musically
19 September 1998 | by moonman-2 – See all my reviews

a film full of magic and superb music. Newport Jazz Festival in 1958 -- with shots as well of the America's Cup races that year that don't add much. Diverse musicians, including Monk, Armstrong. Highlights: Chico Hamilton Quintet -- visually stunning; Fred Katz practicing in a bedroom with light and smoke framing the Bach Cello #1; Anita O'Day in total synch with the audience; the interplay between Armstrong and his band; and many more. One of my favorite movies ever.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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