Rating: 
Summary: Informative and Interesting!
Review: A Great Day in Harlem: This is a great documentary about one of the most famous jazz photos. With interviews from the photographer, musicians, and even one of the kids sitting next to Count Basie in the front, it gives you a nice background about the photo. Also, there is even some color film footage that was taken by Milt Hinton's wife, along with sequences of photographs that give the feel of motion.The Spitball Story: A nice mini-documentary about the story behind the spitball that led to Dizzy Gillespie being fired from Cab Calloway's orchestra. Lots of commentary from Diz himself is included (plus Milt Hinton and Jonah Jones), and during the end credits, there's some film footage of Dizzy performing "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped."
Rating:
Summary: Beyond wonderful
Review: For just about everyone, but specifically jazz lovers, this account of the memorable photograph in Harlem in the late 1950's and is really a necessity, and also a wonderful record of the great jazz musicians of the 40's and 50's. This is like visiting the famous who you'd have loved to have been your friends.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative, inspirational
Review: Good to have this out there and available. Great photo, and actually there is home movie footage in color of the event. It turns out that bass player Milt Hinton, himself a jazz photographer of note, had a super 8 movie camera which he handed to his wife to take random shots. Best part is at the end where they scan the picture slowly, superimposing each individual's name one at a time. You can freeze frame this, too. Also, interviews with Art Blakey, Dizzy, and particularly Horace Silver alone are worth owning this video.
Rating:
Summary: a great time in jazz
Review: having dizzy gillespie alone talking is a must have.a true genius&legend.his music was incredible.seeing some of the many greats taking the picture was history.so much genius and great contribution were taking part in the picture.in the bigger picture for lovers of jazz&great music this was a lifetime event.
Rating:
Summary: if you are a jazz fan, you should own this video.
Review: hi, im wayne i do the great day in harlem web site. if you are a fan of the music, you should have this video. its a great resource and also good if you are just learning about jazz. and check out the web site. END
Rating:
Summary: A Great Teaching Tool in Harlem
Review: I bought the VHS Tape years ago with the poster of the photograph and have used it to teach about Jazz in my music classes. I am purchasing the DVD for easier navigation for specific instruction. However, the best thing is using the internet to go to the photo at www.harlem.org. There the kids can click on any person in the photo and find all sorts of info about the artist, the instruments, the music, and CDs available. And thanks to Amazon.com, when you click on a CD or album, you can get to hear a sample of the music. The kids love it!
Rating:
Summary: Very Cool
Review: I first saw "A Great Day in Harlem" at a jazz festival held at the arboretum on Long Island. I so enjoyed it that I spoke of it to friends and referred to it in conversation. I would love to have a copy of my own to relish a time period and art form that I love... Elizabeth
Rating:
Summary: Very Cool
Review: I first saw "A Great Day in Harlem" at a jazz festival held at the arboretum on Long Island. I so enjoyed it that I spoke of it to friends and referred to it in conversation. I would love to have a copy of my own to relish a time period and art form that I love... Elizabeth
Rating:
Summary: Detour Jazz Club in NYC
Review: If you want to admire the Great Day in Harlem photo and enjoy some good, low-cost contemporary jazz in New York City, check out the Detour jazz club in NYC.
Rating:
Summary: A great little film
Review: In preparation for the onslaught of Ken Burns' 19-hour PBS juggernaut I looked at a few enjoyable, well-made, BRIEF jazz documentaries recently. A Great Day In Harlem is perhaps the most entertaining. You wouldn't think that such a fine film could be made about such a seemingly slight subject----a 1958 Esquire photo of as many jazz musicians as they could scare up at the ungodly hour of ten in the morning. But at least two factors help make the film good, even great: First, it's no longer than it needs to be; only an hour. Second, they got in touch with as many of the surviving subjects of the photo as possible, letting the jazz musicians themselves talk about the occasion. Simple things, but they work. Several of the musicians who talk in this film have since passed away, Dizzy Gillespie for one, making it all the more treasurable. It also reminds one of what a time the 50's were in jazz---modernists of several stripes were already working, many of the original boppers were still around, and major figures of the 30's and even the 20's were still on the scene. I'll stop short of calling it a rich tapestry, but to see it exemplified in this amazing photo (and home movies too!) is kind of breath-taking.
| 
