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The Performing Arts Center will present a unique evening of film and live jazz Nov. 12 in Hodgson Hall. The presentation begins at 8 p.m. with a screening of the one-hour documentary A  Great Day in Harlem, which tells the story of the taking of Art Kane’s historic 1958 Esquire magazine photograph of 57 of the greatest musicians in jazz. The film was nominated for an Academy Award.
The second half of the program will feature a live performance by the legendary saxophonist Johnny Griffin and his ensemble, playing music in tribute to the jazz greats featured in the film.
In 1958, Art Kane was invited to contribute to a special jazz issue of Esquire magazine. He put out the word for all jazz musicians in New York to meet him uptown at 10 a.m. one summer morning--an exceptionally early hour for jazz musicians. Word of mouth prevailed, however, and Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Count Basie, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Marian McPartland, Maxine Sullivan and dozens of others actually showed up--and a valuable document was born.
The film and the photo which inspired it present an extraordinary cross-section of the evolution of jazz. Included are conversations with and about the musicians as well as performance footage. Johnny Griffin, one of nine surviving musicians who appeared in the photograph, is featured prominently in the film. Griffin replaces Art Farmer, originally scheduled to tour with A Great Day in Harlem, who died this past month.
An internationally acclaimed tenor saxophonist, Griffin is known as “The Little Giant” because of his small physical stature and huge musical talent. Griffin is accompanied by pianist Michael Weiss, bassist John Webber and drummer Kenny Washington. They will play music written by or associated with the jazz greats depicted in the film, including a song written by Art Farmer, in a special tribute.
Tickets for A Great Day in Harlem are $16-$20 from the box office in the Performing Arts Center, 542-4400, open weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and two hours prior to performances.
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