Jazz on a Summer's Day
En la película aparece, entre otras joyas, una magnífica actuación de Anita O'Day, esa prodigiosa cantante de Jazz a quien le faltaba la campanilla (seccionada por error cuando era una niña en una operación de amígdalas, resultado de lo cual cantaba con la ayuda del rostro y el cuerpo en lo que parecía continuamente como una licencia dramática y rítmica parte de una forma particular de interpretación teatral). 'Jazz on a Summer's Day' es un fantástico documental filmado por Bert Stern de un concierto realizado en Newport el 4 de Julio de 1958 con un excelente plantel, que además de Anita O'Day incluía a otras figuras como Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington, Chico Hamilton o Chuck Berry. Es destacable en la película el acierto de Stern de adornar las actuaciones con planos del ambiente y un público heterogéneo que incluía a elegantes representantes de la alta sociedad mezclados con veraneantes, culturetas, jóvenes, etc..., en lo que parece en ocasiones como una especie de anuncio de gafas (esos modelos típicos de los '50s). Para la actuación de Anita se reservó la tarde de un domingo, algo arriesgado para alguien como ella que por entonces andaba enganchadísima a la heroína junto a su batería habitual y compañero de fechorías, John Poole. Y a pesar de haber consumido como cualquier otro día (las inyecciones eran un motor para ambos músicos entonces) su actuación en la película fue una de las más apreciadas. Anita O'Day no es persona de arrepentirse de nada y aunque ese duro consumo recreativo le costó varias temporadas entre rejas y dilapidar sus ganancias, ha comentado en alguna ocasión que aquello le aportó ritmo y libertad, algo fundamental para el Jazz.
Anita O'Day es usualmente considerada por los entendidos como una de las más importantes vocalistas de Jazz, sólo superada en las valoraciones por Billie Holiday y situada al nivel de otras grandes como Dinah Washington o Sarah Vaughan.
La película, además de para disfrutar de las excelentes actuaciones, servía como promoción de la música Jazz, del festival en concreto y como propaganda turística y celebración de la vida en ese espacio recreacional veraniego. A través de esos enfoques continuos sobre el público y los exteriores acierta en poner casi al mismo nivel de importancia el ambiente del Festival y sus actuaciones.
In this film appears, among other gems, a fantastic performance by Anita O'Day, the prodigious jazz singer without the uvula (sectioned by mistake as a child in a tonsillectomy, a result of which she sang with the help of the face and body in what appeared continuously as a dramatic and rhythmic license part of a form of theatrical performance), a performance that led me some time ago to discover the full 'Jazz on a Summer's Day', a fantastic sound document directed by Bert Stern. The concert was filmed in Newport on July 4, 1958 and besides the excellent staff, that apart from Anita O'Day also included other great figures such as Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington or Chuck Berry, it is noteworthy the success of Stern in decorating the performances with scenes of the heterogeneous audience that included representatives of the elegant high society mixed with common people on holiday, youngsters, etc..., in what appears sometimes as a kind of optical and sun glasses commercial (those models so typical of the '50s). Anita sang in a Sunday summer evening, something risky for that time as she was quite addicted to heroin along with her usual drummer and constant partner in crime, John Poole. And despite having consumed like any other day (the shots were by then an engine for both musicians) her performance in the film was one of the most appreciated. She seems a person of not repent for anything, and although the recreational use costed her serving some time in prison and wasting most of her profits, she has said on some occasion that it brought her a new sense of rythm and freedom, both quite valuable for Jazz.
Anita O'Day is considered by Jazz critics as one of the most valued vocalists, only surpased by Billie Holiday and on the same level as other figures like Dinah Washington or Sarah Vaughan.
The excellenmt film, as well as a way of enjoying the amazing performances served as a promotion for jazz music but also for that festival in particular and as a celebration of life in that summer holidays space, marking an original and important sign with those scenes of public and open spaces putting the ambient of the Festival almost at the same level as those brilliant performances.
'Jazz on Summer's Day'
EE.UU. 1959
Con Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Dinah Washington, Anita O'Day, Gerry Mulligan, Big Maybelle, Chuck Berry...
Dirigida por Bert Stern & Aram Avakian
Anita O'Day es usualmente considerada por los entendidos como una de las más importantes vocalistas de Jazz, sólo superada en las valoraciones por Billie Holiday y situada al nivel de otras grandes como Dinah Washington o Sarah Vaughan.
La película, además de para disfrutar de las excelentes actuaciones, servía como promoción de la música Jazz, del festival en concreto y como propaganda turística y celebración de la vida en ese espacio recreacional veraniego. A través de esos enfoques continuos sobre el público y los exteriores acierta en poner casi al mismo nivel de importancia el ambiente del Festival y sus actuaciones.
In this film appears, among other gems, a fantastic performance by Anita O'Day, the prodigious jazz singer without the uvula (sectioned by mistake as a child in a tonsillectomy, a result of which she sang with the help of the face and body in what appeared continuously as a dramatic and rhythmic license part of a form of theatrical performance), a performance that led me some time ago to discover the full 'Jazz on a Summer's Day', a fantastic sound document directed by Bert Stern. The concert was filmed in Newport on July 4, 1958 and besides the excellent staff, that apart from Anita O'Day also included other great figures such as Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington or Chuck Berry, it is noteworthy the success of Stern in decorating the performances with scenes of the heterogeneous audience that included representatives of the elegant high society mixed with common people on holiday, youngsters, etc..., in what appears sometimes as a kind of optical and sun glasses commercial (those models so typical of the '50s). Anita sang in a Sunday summer evening, something risky for that time as she was quite addicted to heroin along with her usual drummer and constant partner in crime, John Poole. And despite having consumed like any other day (the shots were by then an engine for both musicians) her performance in the film was one of the most appreciated. She seems a person of not repent for anything, and although the recreational use costed her serving some time in prison and wasting most of her profits, she has said on some occasion that it brought her a new sense of rythm and freedom, both quite valuable for Jazz.
Anita O'Day is considered by Jazz critics as one of the most valued vocalists, only surpased by Billie Holiday and on the same level as other figures like Dinah Washington or Sarah Vaughan.
The excellenmt film, as well as a way of enjoying the amazing performances served as a promotion for jazz music but also for that festival in particular and as a celebration of life in that summer holidays space, marking an original and important sign with those scenes of public and open spaces putting the ambient of the Festival almost at the same level as those brilliant performances.
'Jazz on Summer's Day'
EE.UU. 1959
Con Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Dinah Washington, Anita O'Day, Gerry Mulligan, Big Maybelle, Chuck Berry...
Dirigida por Bert Stern & Aram Avakian
