Jazz on a Summer's Day: A Virtual Speed Cinema Presentation

Stream at home and support the Speed!  A portion of each streaming purchase goes back to the Museum.

Previous Next

Jazz on a Summer’s Day 4K Restoration
Directed by Bert Sterns

August 17 – October 4, 2020

WATCH NOW

CINEMA+ Join Curator of Film Dean Otto for a virtual discussion with Michael A.Tracy, Director of the James Aebersold Jazz Studies Program at University of Louisville. This virtual conversation will happen live on September 8 at 12 pm EST. REGISTER TO ATTEND

“Gorgeous. It’s probably the best feature-length jazz concert movie ever made.”—Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and directed by world-renowned photographer, Bert Stern. Jazz on a Summer’s Day features intimate performances by an all-star line-up of musical legends including Louis Armstrong, Thelonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O’Day, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and closes with a beautiful rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Mahalia Jackson at midnight to usher in Sunday morning.

The 1959 classic is considered one of the most extraordinary and possibly the first concert film ever made. Its sparkling new 4K restoration by IndieCollect, recently premiered at the 57th New York Film Festival. The film was named to the National Film Registry in 1999, and its restoration was funded by the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress in time to celebrate the film’s 60th anniversary. 1959, U.S., 85 minutes. Recommended for 12+.