A Great Day In Harlem is the Oscar nominated film that brings to life a remarkable day in the history of jazz. It is the moment in which dozens of America's jazz legends gathered together for a photograph that has become emblematic of the golden age of Jazz.

It was a summer's day in New York City, 1958 when a young photographer, Art Kane paced nervously in front of a Harlem brownstone. He had been commissioned by Esquire magazine to take a photo spread for their special Jazz issue. Kane had yet to take a professional photograph, so being naive and innocent he came up with the idea of assembling as many of his heroes as he could to take a group shot as a centrepiece for this issue. Leaflets and hand bills were distributed all over New York. They did not expect much of a turn out as the time stated was 10am, a time most jazzers were unaware of. But to everyone's surprise and delight the response was phenomenal, from giant veterans - Basie, Young, Gillespie to the new kids on the block - Rollins, Mulligan, Silver etc. And thus was born one of the greatest photographs ever taken.

A Great Day In Harlem zooms in and out of this astonishing photograph, interweaving archive performances, lost home movie footage taken on the day and memorable interviews with as many of the participants involved both in front and behind the camera.

Up until a few years ago, it was always thought that all that remained of the historical day's events was the photograph itself. But Jean Bach, a television and radio journalist, was given the idea to make the movie when Milt Hinton mentioned that his wife had shot some 8mm home movie footage which had been forgotten over the course of time. Bach took Hinton's priceless film lacing it with other stills taken that day together with interviews, performances and narration from Quincy Jones.

This marvellously uplifting film evokes continuity and a tradition of passing on of musical secrets. The Esquire photograph symbolised a unity between young and old, black and white, ragtime and bebop.

Through the photograph, viewers will come to know some of the century's most influential musicians. Luminaries such as Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Mingus, Marian McPartland, Gerry Mulligan, Mary Lou Williams, Maxine Sullivan and of course Thelonious Monk. The result is a richly textured recreation of the historic day's events.

A Great Day In Harlem captures the spirit of an era when New York City was the centre of the jazz world, when music history was constantly being made and when creativity was fostered by an intense and nurturing community of musicians and fans.

The documentary reveals much about the photograph itself. Everyone was so pleased to see each other that it was difficult to get them to stand still. Even then, Dizzy Gillespie sticks his tongue out which cracked up Roy Aldridge. Thelonious Monk was late. He had been deciding on an outfit to eclipse the company. Eventually he stood next to Mary Lou Williams to give him the best vantage point. Johnny Griffin today remembers Monk with awe and Sonny Rollins, who used to run after Coleman Hawkins for autographs, remembers Lester Young as someone briefly visiting from another planet. Rex Stuart tucked a cornet under his arm, taking it out now and then, to amuse the kids who were hanging around. Coleman Hawkins is brusque and forceful (standing solidly centre front) to the quiet Lester Young (skulking at the back to one side, his tongue apparently lodged in his cheek). Count Basie, whose piano playing was the model of energy and conservation, is the only one who is sitting down (he just got fed up with standing! and having his hat stolen by the street urchins!).

It was almost a perfect day. 'Mose Allison, for one, got there just too late. He would have loved the chance to stand next to Lester Young' said Director Jean Bach also musing how legendary pianist Willy The Lion Smith must have felt 'He got there on time, only to stroll off camera and out of the crucial shot!'

It was indeed a great day when these jazz greats met and joked with their family, their friends and had their class photograph taken some 35 years ago. If you marvelled at the photograph, you will love this humorous, warm film, a vivid portrait of A Great Day In Harlem.

The video is complimented by a companion Sony audio compilation, including a selection of fine tracks from artists featured on A Great Day In Harlem.

A Great Day In Harlem is available in Woolworths, W H Smith, HMV, Virgin, Our Price and Tower, as well as most video and music stores of taste in the United Kingdom. However, if you are unable to buy a copy at a UK store or place an order with a retailer, please follow the simple order instructions to buy this great music video, or any other music videos from the Wienerworld catalogue, delivered direct to your door.

A Great Day For Video - A Great Day In Harlem.

THE ARTISTS

Dizzy Gillespie

Sonny Rollins

Count Basie

Art Blakey

Hank Jones

Buck Clayton

Art Farmer

Johnny Griffin

Horace Silver

Chubby Jackson

Scoville Browne

Milt Hinton

Paula Morris

Taft Jordan Jr

Felix Maxwell

Marian McPartland

Bud Freeman

Everard Powell

Eddie Locke

Gerry Mulligan

Max Kaminsky

Ernie Wilkins

Elaine Lorillard

Benny Golson

Mona Hinton

Robert Altschuler

Nat Hentoff

Robert Benton

Steve Frankfurt

Mike Lipskin

Thelonious Monk

Coleman Hawkins

Lester Young

Charlie Mingus

Narrated by Quincy Jones

THE TRACK LIST

One O'Clock Jump
Open All Night
Carolina Shout
Echoes Of Spring
Nothin'
Blue Monk
The Lady Who Swings The Band
The Man I Love
Wild Man Blues
Twelfth Street Rag
Easy Does It
Fine and Mellow
Some Of These Days
I Left My Baby
Dickie's Dream
Rosetta
Every Day (I Have the Blues)
Low Down Dog
Stardust
Sweet Lorraine
 

Title -

A Great Day In Harlem

Catalogue # -

WNR 2055

Release Date -

9 October 1995

Duration -

60 minutes

Certification -

E

Bar Code

5 018755 205514

Retail Price -

£12.99